By Laolu Elijah

IBADAN—UNEASY, they say, lies the head that wears the crown.

This aptly describes the intrigues that played out in the emergence of the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who was officially installed on July 12, 2024. The pathway to the exalted throne of Olubadan has been so rough and bumpy.

Since he began the journey to the throne as Mogaji 41 years ago, he had never imagined that the struggle for the throne could be this tedious and slippery.

The raging wind tossed him to and fro but as a rugged old soldier, who retired as a Major in the Army, he remained undaunted.

The ascension to the throne of Olubadan, without mincing words, is the most peaceful and orderly in Yoruba land. Unlike some towns and cities where it is a tug of war to ascend the throne, the two lines to Olubadan stool-the Olubadan (Civil) and Balogun (military) provide the opportunity for every indigene of the city to assume the throne.

But, with the amendment of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957 and recent events, it is evident that things are no longer at ease in the Ibadan Traditional Council. To be in tune with the modern-day reality, Governor Seyi Makinde, in collaboration with the late Olubadan, Oba Balogun, amended the Chieftaincy Declaration.

Makinde, lawmakers amended Chieftaincy Law

Prior to the nomination of Oba Olakulehin by the Olubadan-in-Council which doubles as the city’s kingmakers, the Executive Arm of Government and the Legislature, on 26 May, 2023, amended the Chieftaincy Law of Oyo State, which empowers the governor to amend the declaration of traditional rulers without making recourse to the Council of Chiefs.

While speaking on the amended state’s Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000, Governor Makinde said: “Well, the implication is that we must have a Law in the state that allows the smooth running of the traditional council, which is important. Before I came in, the traditional council was not functioning, but now they can function. You remember that the previous administration tried to reform the traditional council system, especially in Ibadanland.

“The government gave coronets to some high chiefs. One of the High Chiefs went to court, and the state court decided that the previous administration didn’t follow their own law. Now that we have amended the law, we will follow our own law, and no one can go to court now and succeed.”
The Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mohammed Fadeyi, said there was a public hearing on the amended law by the House where all stakeholders contributed.

The late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun was represented by the then Balogun, Oba who led the Olubadan-in-Council and other traditional rulers.

First time for Olakulehin family to wear Olubadan’s crown

Since Oba Olakulehin joined the Olubadan Chieftaincy line, this will be the first time someone from Ita Baale, Oba Olakulehin’s family compound will wear the crown of Olubadan about 200 years after the creation of Ibadan.

This was disclosed by Musiliu Adebayo, a member of Daramola family compound.

Adebayo said: “We are happy that the Olubadan stool is coming back to Ita Baale. Ita Baale produced only one Baale since Ibadan was established over 200 years ago. Baale Oyesile Olugbode from Ita Baale was the 7th traditional ruler in Ibadan and he reigned for 13 years, between 1851 and 1864.

“The title of Olubadan of Ibadan land has not been introduced as at that time. The title of the Olubadan was introduced in 1930 during the reign of Olubadan Okunola Abass Aleshinloye from Isale Ijebu, who reigned for 16 years, from 1930 to 1946.

How he rose through the ladder

Olubadan-designate became Mogaji from the Ige Olakulehin Family of Ita-Baale in Ibadan North East Local Government in 1983 and he was installed as the Jaagun Balogun of Ibadanland by Olubadan per excellence, late Oba Oloyede Asanke in 1986.

Rising through the ladder, he was elevated in 2006 to the Olubadan-in-Council, under Oba Yinusa Bankole Ogundipe, the 38th Olubadan of Ibadan and he then served as the Head of Traditional Council in various Local Governments across Ibadan, representing the Olubadan-In-Council prior to becoming the Balogun of Ibadan in 2016. Since then, he has been praying quietly that one day he would hold the sceptre of the city as the Olubadan.

Division within Olubadan-in-Council over his nomination

During the tenure of the former Governor of the state, the late Abiola Ajimobi, all 11 members of Olubadan-in-Council except the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja were united especially when they were controversially promoted to crown wearing kings.

The strong cord of love that bound them together remained intact until the death of Oba Balogun when the tide suddenly changed.

Opposition to his nomination

The umbilical cord that held members of the Olubadan-in-Council was unbroken till the time to nominate the next Olubadan. High Chief Ladoja, who is next in hierarchy to the Olubadan designate, being the most senior Chief, is empowered to convene the meeting of the kingmakers.

He called the meeting but the ‘unity’ among them led to the unanimous decision to boycott the Mapo Hall meeting. Unknown to High Chief Ladoja, a separate meeting had been held elsewhere where the other kingmakers resolved not to attend the meeting. They said they must see Olubadan-designate before they nominate him.

But things changed unexpectedly as other kingmakers shifted loyalty.

For the first time in the history of the city, the kingmakers didn’t speak with one voice.
While others gave a clean bill of health to the Olubadan-designate, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Otun Balogun took a different stance saying there was no need to rush the process so as to allow Oba Olakulehin to recuperate fully.

Osi Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Asipa Balogun Olubadan, Balogun, Osi Balogun, Ashipa Balogun, Ekerin Balogun, Otun Olubadan, Osi Olubadan, Ashipa Olubadan, Ekerin Olubadan and Iyalode were together on the side of High Chief Ladoja.

After the hullabaloo, Ibadan people, including Oba Ajibola in their unique way of settling dispute, sheathed their swords.

Profile of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin

Oba Akinloye Olalere Owolabi Olakulehin was born on 5th July 1935, in Okugbaja Village within the proximity of Akanran, in the present day Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State to Pa Ishola-Okin Owolabi and Madam Adunola Aweni Opo Ajilaran Omoyoade Owolabi. The family has its ancestral homestead within the ancient city of Ibadan at Ita-Baale Olugbode.

Owolabi Olakulehin’s maternal lineage derives from another ancient and established Ibadan family, the Kusidi family whose ancestral farmlands is in Kusidi village Egbeda Local Government with ancestral homestead within the ancient metropolis of Ibadan at Ile Kusidi in Elekuro. The maternal lineage of his family is also a recognised Chieftaincy family in Ibadanland.

He started his primary school education in the village at St James Primary School, Oke Akaran and subsequently moved to Ibadan where he attended Islamic School, Odoiye and later St Peter Primary School, Aremo, where he concluded his primary education.

He taught as a primary school teacher at Wakajaiye in Akobo Area of Ibadan before he gained admission to Yaba Technical Institute for his secondary school education with vocational study in printing and artwork.

He worked at the Ministry of Works, Western Region Government in Ibadan from 1959 starting as a third-class clerk. While working he gained admission to the Yaba College of Technology to study and obtained his Ordinary National Diploma, OND, and Higher National Diploma, HND, in Building.

Upon completion he transferred his service to the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers where he was recruited in 1970 through the Direct Short Service Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant serving in Benin and Sapele under General Olusegun Obasanjo as his commanding officer.

He later served in various positions and locations across the country rising through the ranks to the position of a Major. As an officer, he held various positions including Commanding Officer of the Army Maintenance Regiment in Jos, Kaduna and Lagos. He retired voluntarily from the Nigerian Army as a Major on 1st October, 1979 following the completion of a remarkable twenty-year career in military service.

Oba Olakulehin was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in Oyo State during the third Republic. He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1992 representing Ibadan South East Constituency in the third republic and served as Chairman of the House Committee of the Nigerian Army.

He became Mogaji for the Ige Olakulehin Family of Ita-Baale in Ibadan North-East Local Government in 1983 and was installed as the Jaagun Balogun of Ibadanland by Oba Oloyede Asanke in 1986. Rising through the ladder, he was elevated in 2006 to the Olubadan-in-Council under Oba Yinusa Bankole Ogundipe, the 38th Olubadan of Ibadan and served as the Head of Traditional Council in various Local Governments across Ibadan, representing the Olubadan-in-Council prior to becoming the Balogun of Ibadan in 2016.

Following the directive of the Olubadan-in-Council, he retired from active politics and has devoted his time and resources towards the advancement of the interests of the people of Ibadan, Ibadanland and its metropolitan environs.