By Ade Adeloye, Ibadan
Controversy surrounding the installation of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland got messier as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja on Wednesday in Ibadan said that the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola is not qualified to determine the medical fitness of the Olubadan designate Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
Oba Ajibola had at a press conference held in Ibadan on Tuesday said Olubadan designate is not medically fit for now to be installed as Olubadan and thereby appealed to the stakeholders to give him more time.
Senator Ladoja made the declaration yesterday while addressing Journalists in his Ibadan residence shortly after the Eld fitri prayers.
Ladoja said that the position of Oba Ajibola on the medical status of Oba Olakulehin is in contrast with the position of Oba Lateef Adebimpe who after paying homage to him in his Alalubosa GRA, Ibadan declared that he is hale, hearty and fit for the throne
But High Chief Ladoja submitted that in as much Oba Ajibola has the right to his opinion he is not in a position to certify whether Oba Olakulehin is medically fit for the throne or not noting that he is not a medical doctor.
According to him, ‘There was a video that has gone viral where Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe addressed journalists in “Baba’ House and confirmed that he is hale and hearty after seeing him.
“If one says that he is not well and the other one says that he is well. You can see that everybody is giving his opinion.
“However, none of them is a medical doctor. The man we are talking about is not 50 years; not 60 years. He is over 80 years. You don’t expect him to run as fast as 50 years old man.
“Otun Balogun is not in a best position to determine his medical fitness. He is not a medical doctor. It is an opinion. You can add your own as well.
“The matter will be resolved at tomorrow’s meeting which is expected to have in attendance all the kingmakers including Oba Ajibola”, he said.
Ladoja disclosed that the meeting which was earlier fixed for Thursday has been shifted till Friday because of the Eid-fitr public holiday.
He said that all the kingmakers have been duly notified of the shift in date till Friday.
Ladoja, however, stated in a situation that any of the kingmakers is not in attendance after being duly notified another person can take over his responsibility at the meeting.
Otun Olubadan stated this in response to a question that if Otun Balogun who is expected to nominate the next monarch fails to attend the meeting what will happen.
It will be noted that Oba Ajibola is next to Oba Olakulehin on the warrior’s line and the responsibility beholds on him to nominate Oba Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Ladoja said, 1957 Declaration makes provision for substitution. He can be substituted if he is sick because anybody can be sick, if he doesn’t come for the meeting that he has been invited to attend, there is even a provision for multiple nominations in the declaration.
