Following the death of Oba Lekan Balogun, the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan, on March 14, ceremonies and events were held in the ancient city to mourn his passing. During the period, Owolabi Olakulehin, the 89-year-old head of the Balogun ruling line, one of the two ruling lines in the city, was touted as the next Olubadan of Ibadan.

From then on, things appeared to be going smoothly until Tuesday, when Oba Abimbola Ajibola, the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, alleged that Olakulehin was ill and not physically fit to ascend the throne.

Ajibola, while addressing newsmen, said Olakulehin was not healthy and should not be installed as the Olubadan yet.

READ ALSO: lNSIDER: Why Balogun Owolabi Olakulehin Is Next in the Olubadan Line

Ajibola’s comments subsequently led to discussions around Section 14 (2) Cap 28 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law of 2000, which, among other things, listed being physically fit as part of the criteria to be met before any candidate can be appointed as the Olubadan.

The section reads:

No person shall be qualified to be a candidate for a recognised chieftaincy title who:

(a) Suffers from serious physical infirmity; or

(b) Has under any law in force in Nigeria been found or declared to be a lunatic or adjudged to be of unsound mind; or

(c) Has, in any part of the Commonwealth;

(i) Been sentenced to death or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years; or

(ii) Been convicted of an offence involving dishonesty and sentenced to imprisonment therefore, and has not been granted a free pardon.

FROM AN INSIDER

While speaking to FIJ, however, an insider who is quite familiar with the politics and intrigues of the Olubadan stool viewed things from a different perspective.

“Interestingly, the Otun Olubadan, who just spoke yesterday, is also an 80-year-old man,” the insider told FIJ on Wednesday.

“Nobody has any authority over anybody’s life span, except God. I am not sure it was right of him to have spoken publicly the way he did on Tuesday. Oba Ajibola himself will turn 80 on September 23 this year. The Olubadan-designate is just nine years older than him.

“He purely has a motive for saying all he said to newsmen on Tuesday.

“The fact is that the Olubadans have always not been in good health conditions before ascending the throne. If you look closely, they become monarchs at a very old age. The sole reason for this is because their progression to becoming king is promotional. They always have to wait in line for many years before becoming king.”

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: What Happens When Olubadan Dies?

RULING LINE PROMOTION AND PROGRESSION

The source further spoke to FIJ on how the chieftaincy progression works in Ibadan.

“Let’s look at things from a very critical angle. In Ibadan land, your progression in the ruling line starts with you becoming a mogaji,” the source said.

“As people are dying, you are moving up. Apart from that, you are expected to climb about 22 steps if you are in the Otun line, and if you are in the Balogun line, you will have to climb about 23 steps before you can stand a chance of becoming the Olubadan or potentially finding yourself in a position to becoming one.

“This then means that, if you are lucky to be alive all through the years of your progression, you are likely to become the Olubadan at a very old age.

“Oba Olakulehin became a mogaji 40 years ago. In the history of Ibadan, we have had many elderly candidates become the Olubadan. By the time they were crowned, they would have become frail and old. From a conservative point of view, that is how things have been from time immemorial.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Olubadan Lekan Balogun Dies at 81

“The funniest thing is that the chieftaincy law being cited now has never been tested or invoked before. The law has always been ignored. Why bring it up now if someone somewhere is indeed not trying to be mischievous?.”

OBA BALOGUN’S SUCCESSOR LIKELY TO BE NAMED ON FRIDAY

At the tail end of FIJ’s interview with the source, he said there was a strong possibility that a new Olubadan would be nominated on Friday.

“The 21-day mourning period elapsed last Friday. There is strong possibility that a new Olubadan will be nominated this coming Friday,” the source said.

“I am not sure Oba Ajibola, because of his present disposition on the matter, will show up when members of the Olubadan-in-Council convene on Friday.

“It is just for seven out of the 12 members of the council to support the idea of Olakulehin becoming king and that’s the end.

“I am certain Ajibola will not attend the meeting on Friday. That, however, will not stop the other members from announcing Olakulehin’s nomination as the next Olubadan.”