*High Chief Rashidi Ladoja absent
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Tuesday meeting of Ibadan Kingmakers at the Mapo official palace for an Olubadan ended without any pronouncement on the vacant stool of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
However, the Osi Olubadan and former governor of Oyo state, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja was completely absent from the Mapo palace meeting.
Expectations were high in and around the venue of the meeting following the agenda released last week by the Olubadan Advisory Council that the meeting will focus on the confirmation of High Chief Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
However at the closed door meeting of the Ibadan Kingmakers, the High Chiefs at the meeting left the venue of the meeting one after another without no pronouncement or official comment on the outcome of the meeting.
Most of the Kingmakers accosted by journalists after coming out of the meeting refused to make any comment or remarks on their deliberations at the Mapo palace meeting
The Mapo palace meeting was attended by the Balogun of Ibadan land, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, High Chief Eddy Oyewole, High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi, High Chief Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe and the President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) Chief Oluyemisi Adeaga.
New Nigerian learnt that the absence of High Chief Rashidi Ladoja may have adversely affected the Mapo palace meeting as it was expected in line with the Olubadan Chieftaincy law that High Chief Ladoja being the most Senior in the other Olubadan linage should be the one to officially present the name of Otun Olubadan to other kingmakers as the meeting next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
It will be recalled that the Olubadan Advisory Council in a circular with reference number OAC/1/260/72, dated January 6, 2022, signed by the Secretary to the Olubadan Advisory Council, K. Liasu, summoned the kingmakers to a meeting at the Mapo palace being those that are statutorily empowered to take the decision on who becomes the next Olubadan of Ibadanland
The circular entitled ‘Invitation to a Meeting of Ibadan Kingmakers” tasked all the concerned Ibadan kingmakers to meet at Olubadan palace at Oja’ba, Ibadan, this Tuesday, saying, ” I have been directed to invite you to a meeting of the Ibadan Kingmakers scheduled to hold as follows: Venue: Olubadan Palace, Oja’ba, Ibadan. Date: Tuesday, 11th January 2022. Time: 11:00 a.m. prompt”,
The letter added, ” Please attend personally and be punctual. Thanks. The sole business of the meeting, is filling of the vacant stool of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
