Ladoja Drags Makinde, Olubadan, Others To Court Over Elevation Of High Chiefs To Obas

Former Oyo State governor and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has dragged the state governor, Seyi Makinde; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, and 10 members of the Olubadan-in-Council, who were recently elevated to kingship position, to court over the State’s chieftaincy law review.

The Olubaban had last Friday crowned the High Chiefs as Obas, following the review of the state’s chieftaincy law by Governor Makinde.

However, Ladoja, one of the High Chiefs, who had kicked against the elevation of the High Chiefs as Obas, shunned the ceremony.

It would be recalled that Ladoja also dragged late Governor Abiola Ajimobi to court following the elevation of 33 chiefs to Obas in 2017.

The Otun Olubadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, had alleged that the Olubadan, Ọba Olalekan Balogun, was plotting to prevent him from ascending to the throne when it gets to his turn by altering the chieftaincy law.

In the suit filed by the former governor, he alleged that the plan was that if he refused to be crowned, he would be denied of his status as Otun Olubadan of Ibadan Land and that he would not be permitted to ascend the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan Land when it is his turn.

The first defendant in the suit was Olubadan of Ibadanland while the 12th defendant was Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State. The second to eleventh defendants were the elevated Obas.

He stated in the suit filed by his counsel that, “To the dismay of the claimant, he started hearing in the media that he would be crowned on the 7 day of July, 2023, when he has never consented to the untraditional act masterminded by the 1st  Defendant.

“That since he has made it known to the first Defendant that the act of elevating any of the Olubadan in council or High Chiefs to this status of His Royal Majesty is untraditional the 1st Defendant has started plotting that if the Claimant refused to be crowned, he would be denied of his status as Otun Olubadan of Ibadan Land and that he would not be permitted to ascend the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan Land when it is his turn.

“That from Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan Land after due consideration, the 12th Defendant is the approving authority to become a King in Ibadan, which is Olubadan of Ibadan and no other King. The 12th Defendant has not in any form consent to the illegal act that the 1st Defendant is out to perpetuate.

“That the entire Ibadanland is the domain of Olubadan of Ibadan Land and that the elevation that the 1st Defendant intends doing is to segregate Ibadan Land and cause disharmony. The Imperial Majesty that the 1st Defendant is appointing would be a royal father without domain.

“That the act of the 1st Defendant to elevate the 2nd to 11th Defendants is contrary to Oyo State of Nigerian Gazette No. 03 Vol. 47 dated 11th February, 2022.’’

According to him, the act of the first defendant to elevate the second to 12th Defendants to be royal majesty was against the tenor of judgment in M/317/2017 between High Chief (Senator Rashidi Ladoja Vs The Governor Of Oyo State & ANOR delivered on the 19th day of November, 2019.

He further stated that in order to stop this illegal act, through his counsel, he wrote a letter dated July 4, 2023 to the 1st Defendant.

“That it is only this Honourable Court that can protect the long-aged tradition of Ibadanland from being bastardized, by restraining the Defendants from carrying out this untraditional act.

“I make this written statement on oath in good faith, conscientiously believing the same to be true and correct pursuant to the Oaths Act.”