The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo state, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja on Sunday corrected that Governor Seyi Makinde is not delaying the coronation of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin because of him.
High Chief Ladoja stated this in Ibadan while speaking with journalists at his Ondo street residence, Bodija, Ibadan, after observing this year’s Eid-el-Kabir prayers.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland said he is not the target of the delay in the crowning of the new Olubadan as he enjoys cordial relationship with Governor Makinde.
“I am not the target of Governor Seyi Makinde. He is not delaying the coronation because of me. He sent a very big cow and many bags of rice to me for the Sallah,” he said.
High Chief Ladoja added: “He had called to greet me for the festival. It is only God that makes kings. I believe that by God’s grace the new Olubadan will soon be crowned.”
The former governor added that it is only the Ibadan people that can enthrone Oba Olakulehin as the Olubadan not Gov Makinde and the governor could not be saying the Olubadan-designate will be enthroned when he is strong to be the Olubadan.
High Chief Ladoja stressed that the role of government was just to give staff of office and instrument of office to the Olubadan-designate and not to enthrone.
“The governor might have access to medical records of Olakulehin’s health, or send his doctors to access his health or use artificial intelligence to do that. I don’t have any problem if the governor refuses to give him staff of office or instrument of office, but he is not the one to enthrone him.
“Oba Olakulehin is an aged man, we didn’t expect him to still be acting like a youth.”
