Olubadan crowns council members as Obas Friday

Akinwande Soji-Ojo

As from Friday, members of the Olubadan-in-Council traditionally referred to as High Chiefs would cease being addressed as such, following their elevation to Obas with the salutation of Royal Majesties.

The 11 cabinet members of the Olubadan will on Friday (today) receive beaded crowns from the Ibadan paramount ruler, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II.

The beneficiaries of the new titles, according to a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, are Balogun of Ibadanland, Otun Olubadan, Otun Balogun and Osi Olubadan, High Chiefs Owolabi Olakulehin, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Tajudeen Ajibola and Eddy Oyewole respectively.

Others are High Chiefs Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe (Osi Balogun), Abiodun Kola-Daisi (Ashipa Olubadan), Kolawole Adegbola (Ashipa Balogun), Hamidu Ajibade (Ekerin Olubadan), Dada Isioye (Ekerin Balogun), Adebayo Akande (Ekarun Olubadan) and Abiodun Dauda Azeez (Ekarun Balogun).

The epoch-making event will hold at the ancient Mapo Hall. The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde will present the newly installed Obas with the staff of office and the occasion is expected to be witnessed by various Obas from across the Yoruba land.

According to the statement, the event was predicated on the request made to the state government by the Olubadan earlier this year to elevate his cabinet members to beaded crown wearing Obas following a report of a committee set up comprising some of the High Chiefs, notable individuals in Ibadan and technocrats shortly after his (Olubadan) inauguration in 2022.

A two-phased programme, Friday’s event would later be followed by the same exercise for some of the Baales in Ibadan land who would start bearing Royal Highnesses.

“Olubadan insisted that the current exercise has nothing against the existing Ibadan traditional system, rather it would enhance it. The fears of alteration of the succession plan to the Olubadan stool have no basis because the crowns and the new titles of Royal Majesties being conferred on the High Chiefs do not change anything in the hierarchy of Olubadan ascension method,” the statement added.