By ‘Oba Owolabi Olakulehin is next Olubadan’, former Oyo Governor, Ladoja confirms
Ghazali Ibrahim
Following the passing of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan Land, Oba Mashood Olalekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, on Thursday night, former governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has disclosed that the identity of the next Olubadan is known. However, the date for the coronation is yet to be fixed.
Senator Ladoja, speaking on behalf of other members of the Olubadan Advisory Council, revealed the development after a meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council convened in response to the monarch’s demise. He emphasized that while the coronation date for the next Olubadan is pending, it will be announced once the burial rites for Oba Balogun are concluded.
“The departed monarch (Ọba Balogun) came from the ọtun line, the next monarch will be from Balogun line, so the head of Balogun is the Balogun of Ibadan land, who hsd become the Olubadan-designate,” according to reports by Leadership.
Highlighting the traditional succession process, Senator Ladoja explained that as the departed monarch hailed from the Otun line, the next Olubadan will emerge from the Balogun line. Thus, the head of the Balogun line is designated as the Olubadan-designate.
“We all know that Ibadan does things accordingly. If a king dies, we already know who is next, we refer to him as designate”, he stated.
In accordance with Islamic customs, Oba Balogun will be laid to rest in his ancestral home, Aliwo, with burial proceedings scheduled for Friday at 4:00pm. A lying-in-state ceremony will precede the burial, taking place at Mapo Hall from 12:00pm to 1:00pm.
The burial arrangements will be conducted in adherence to Islamic traditions, honoring the late monarch’s faith and heritage.
