Barring last minute changes, the Oyo State Government had said it would pronounce the next Olubadan of Ibadanland on Monday.
Governor Seyi Makinde made the disclosure, on Saturday, when speaking at the royal reception of the final burial ceremony of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
The event, which held at the Liberty Stadium, also known as the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado, Ibadan, was attended by top government functionaries and other dignitaries from within and outside the state.
During the ceremony, Makinde said he had received the letter of recommendation from the kingmakers and would do the needful without further delay.
He disclosed that the crisis trailing the Olubadan chieftaincy law following the review has been amicably resolved, adding that the move is another victory for Ibadanland and Oyo State as a whole.
The governor noted that with the latest development, Ibadanland and indeed Oyo State has returned to it’s pacesetter status which made it an envy of other regions, particularly in terms of chieftaincy law, saying he never hid his decision on where to stand when crisis arose, following the review of the chieftaincy laws by the immediate past administration.
Makinde stated: “When the crisis of chieftaincy laws started, it was here at Liberty Stadium that I promised to only do the bidding of the king. I am happy that all the crisis on Olubadan chieftaincy law have been addressed and amicably settled. I have received a letter from the Olubadan-in-Council and on Monday, we will announce the new Olubandan of Ibadanland.”
He said the fact that the process and system was never broken and needs no correction is another victory for the Ibadan traditional institution, as the system has reverted to the former method of installing the Olubadan in Ibadanland.
“There are those that if you go to their town, for years they may not be able to install a new king, but by the time we were celebrating the 40 days of the demise of our monarch in Ibadan, we already knew the next in line. It is a system that many people are trying to emulate and take after and that is why we are the pacesetter,” the governor asserted.
The Late monarch virtues
In their various tributes, the Olubadan Advisory Council, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, the Ibadan Progressive Union and a representative of the family of the late Olubadan, spoke glowingly of the virtues of the late first class monarch, with all of them agreeing that the reign of the late Olubadan, even though short, was peaceful and progressive for Ibadanland and Oyo State in general.
Highlights of the event were cultural displays, presentation of traditional eulogy and musical documentary on the artistes that passed through the music label of the late monarch.
Some of the dignitaries at the event include: Ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja; a representative of the Governor of Ogun State; Oyo Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan; government functionaries; members of the Olubadan-in-Council; traditional rulers; community leaders; religious leaders and chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party, among others.
Emmanuel Ukoh
