The statutory meeting of Olubadan Advisory Council scheduled to hold yesterday (Monday) could not be held owing to the insistence of the members of the Council that they would not sit for a meeting with one of them, Otun Olubadan and the former governor of the state, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
This decision by the members of the Advisory Council who were elevated as Obas and Royal Majesties last July by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR Alli Okunmade II was taken because of the court case instituted against their elevation by the Otun Olubadan. .
High Chief Ladoja had challenged the elevation in court in which Olubadan, all Ladoja’s colleagues that were elevated as Obas, the governor of the state and the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General in the state were all sued in the suit still pending in court.
Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who is the Balogun of Ibadanland and the next in rank to the Olubadan seized the floor immediately after the opening prayer was offered by the Palace Chaplain, Pastor Olusoji Adediji and announced that all the High Chiefs that became Obas had resolved not to hold any of the Advisory Council meetings that the Otun Olubadan would attend.
He said, “we have resolved not to sit with our friend and brother, High Chief Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan pending the conclusion of his court case. Since he has taken us to court, we have all hired lawyers and waiting for the case to commence. What I’m saying here today is the decision of all us that got elevated and served with court papers instituted by the Otun Olubadan.
“It is a settled matter in Yoruba parlance that people don’t relate as friends after court matters (a kii ti kootu de se ore). Not until the court case is decided whichever way, we have resolved not to hold any meeting with High Chief Ladoja in attendance”, Oba Olakulehin added..
Though, Olubadan made attempt to water the matter down with an appeal that there was already a rapprochement between him and the former governor, and that the meeting should go on as scheduled, but, others in attendance sided with Oba Olakulehin as Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade disclosed that all the other members of the Council were meeting at the Balogun’s house. He hammered it that Oba Olakulehin was speaking for all of them.
High Chief Ladoja in his brief remark disclosed that the invitation sent to him bore Olubadan Advisory Council, a member of which he is by virtue of his position as the Otun Olubadan, noting that if the meeting had been tagged ‘Obas’ Council’s, he would not have bothered to attend.
He maintained that he had no any personal issue with any of them, but fighting on principle. “There is no need to be personal about it, it is a matter of principle and I have no animosity against anybody. It was widely reported when I came to Kabiyesi to offer explanations on my action and we are still talking”, he added.
When it became glaring that the meeting which also had in attendance Ashipa Olubadan, Ashipa Balogun and Ekarun Olubadan, Obas Biodun Kola-Daisi, Kolawole Adegbola and Adebayo Akande respectively could not be held, motion for adjournment was moved, seconded and the meeting ended without any of the items on agenda discussed.
