Obas Set Condition for Truce with Ladoja: “Wear The Crown”
Former Oyo State Governor High Chief Rashidi Ladoja is in a dilemma over the condition to accept to be crowned as an Oba like his colleagues for total resolution of the disaffection between him and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council.
Ladoja rejected the elevation of members of the council to royal majesties in 2017 and 2023. He did not just reject the elevation, he also challenged the elevation of other colleagues in court in 2017 and won, a development that forced them to surrender their crowns as a condition for enthroning the late Oba Lekan Balogun in 2022.
When Governor Seyi Makinde re-crowned the high chiefs as Obas last year, Ladoja again rejected the offer and challenged it in court. All the nine Obas and Governor Makinde, who is the approving authority, are respondents in the current suit.
But with the demise of Oba Balogun, Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan, inched closer to the throne. He is next after Oba Owolabi Olakulehin to mount the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Things took a new turn as the Obas shunned the former governor, a development that can jeopardise his chances of mounting the throne when the crown returns to Otun line.
It was gathered that with the intervention of Ibadan elders, Ladoja is willing to withdraw the suit. But the major condition given him by the Obas is for him to accept the crown, which he has rejected, as they argue that the elevation was the wish of the people of Ibadan land.
