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Olubadan Seat: Why Ladoja May Battle Lekan Balogun
Aftermath of the demise of His Royal Majesty Saliu Adetunji on Sunday, 2 January, 2021 at the University College, Ibadan after a brief illness and buried the same day at his Popo Yemoja palace according to Islamic rites..
Close sources to Ibadan Traditional Council revealed that former Oyo State Governor Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja may contest the seat with Lekan Balogun instead of the smooth crowning of the Obas according to hierarchy.
There are two lineages in Ibadan namely the Otun and the Balogun lineage, while the Late Adetunji came from the Balogun lineage the next Olubadan should come from the Otun lineage and the most senior High Chief is Senator Lekan Balogun, who is the current Otun of Ibadan land, that is, the second-in-command to the deceased monarch.
But if Osi Olubadan, the former Governor of Oyo State, is ambitious and wants to change history he might go to court to stop Balogun from becoming the next Oba based on an unresolved court case over the crowning of Coronet Obas in Ibadan.
Investigation revealed that after the crowning of the Coronet Obas by the late Senator Ajimobi the then Governor of Oyo State, Ladoja went to Court to challenge the State government and won..
The correct Obas appealed the judgment and the appeal is still in court till the demise of Adetunji.
If Ladoja goes to court he might win because he (Ladoja) had earlier rejected the crown which Senator Lekan Balogun accepted..
Though Ladoja is yet to issue any statement regarding the death of Adetunji but a source close to Olubadan in council said that all the High Chiefs are meeting to forestall any ascension crisis.
Below is the list of Ibadan chiefs based on hierarchy :
1) Lekan Balogun: Otun Olubadan.
2) His Excellency, Senator Rashidi Ladoja: Osi Olubadan.
3) Owolabi Olakulehin: Balogun Olubadan
4). Olufemi Olaifa: Otun Balogun.
5) Eddy Oyewole: Ashipa Olubadan.
6) Tajudeen Ajibola: Osi Balogun.
7) Amidu Ajibade:Ekaarun Olubadan.
8) Lateef Gbadamosi: Ashipa Balogun Olubadan.
9) Kola Adegbola: Ekarun Balogun.
10) Abiodun Kola-Daisi: Ekerin Olubadan.
But who really is Lekan Balogun and what is his antecedents to warrant him to be touted as the next occupant of the seat?
A businessman, Lekan Balogun sits on the board of several companies with interests in Oil and Gas, Distributive Trade, Management Consulting, Mechanized Farming and Export of non-oil items as well as Travels and Tourism.
A former senator, he was an administrator/head, industrial relations, recruitment and scholarships, planning and development at Shell Petroleum Development Company.
He was also a Research Fellow with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a director with Triumph Newspaper, Kano; Editor of the monthly Magazine-“The Nigerian Pathfinder” as well as Management Consultant for Multinational Organizations such as Leyland, Exiat Battery and Nigerian Breweries.
He’s a renowned technocrat, author and philanthropist.
He holds a Doctorate, Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Administration; Public and Social Administration and Economics from Columbus International University, Brunel University and Manchester University all in the United Kingdom.
A former Presidential Aspirant on the platform of SDP, Senator Balogun was also a Gubernatorial Candidate for the PDP in Oyo State in the present political dispensation and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic.
He was chairman Senate Committee on National Planning and was a member to many Senate Committees.