Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The crisis rocking the Ibadan chieftaincy institution appeared to have been resolved after members of the Olubadan-in-Council agreed to drop their titles. The Osi-Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, said they agreed with Governor Seyi Makinde's decision to revert to the original concept. The controversy began in 2017 when the administration of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi embarked on reform of the ancient Ibadan traditional system, which culminated in elevation of High Chiefs to Royal Majesties and Baales to Royal Highnesses. Despite the then government's position that all stakeholders should be carried along, the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Osi-Olubadan, who is also a former governor in the state, Rashidi Ladoja, opposed the reform. Makinde publicly denounced the reform made by his predecessor.

Rashidi Ladoja, former Governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, yesterday said there is no controversy on who succeeds the late Oba Saliu Adetunji as Olubadan based on tradition. 10 of the 11-member Olubadan-in-Council endorsed Balogun, and Ladoja clarified the impression that he had a hand in the letter written by an Ibadan-born lawyer and former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Michael Lana. He added that there is still mourning the Olubadan.