Culture of succession, as royal drummers move to Ladoja’s home signaling next Olubadan
*As attention focuses on Makinde makes history as governor who appointed three Olubadan in succession
By KEMI KASUMU
In the meantime, while it is expected that the formalisation process has begun with the relocation of royal drummers from Olakulehin’s residence to Ladoja’s home, our reporter gathered that the Oyo State government is set to make its pronouncement of the new Olubadan of Ibadan Land.
The royal drummers, who once played for Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin as Olubadan of Ibadan Land, have now moved to the Bodija GRA home of Oba Alhaji Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan and next in line to the throne.
This is the culture an embodiment of customs and traditions that is brought to play when a siting Olubadan dies and it has been activated for Ladoja following the demise of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
Our findings showed that the drummers, cited in Ladoja’s home, is a symbolic transfer of allegiance to the expected successor, in line with the traditional succession system of the Olubadan chieftaincy.
A similar scene unfolded earlier, when Oba Lekan Balogun passed on. At the time, the same group of palace drummers moved from his Alarere residence to Oba Olakulehin’s Alalubosa home.
However there is the need for official process to formalise the the emergence of the new Olubadan that Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State, has now become. This includes the formal nomination by the Olubadan-in-Council, which will present the name of Ladoja to the Oyo State Government for approval and eventual presentation of the staff of office.
Born on September 25, 1944, Ladoja was elected governor of Oyo State in April 2003 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party and assumed office on May 29 of that year.
Traditionally, the personal residence of the incoming Olubadan serves as the palace upon ascension.
To be eligible for the throne, one must belong to either of the two principal chieftaincy lines, Otun or Balogun, both of which determine the succession path in Ibadan.
In a significant moment on August 12, 2024, the late Olakulehin formally presented the ceremonial beaded crown to Ladoja, crown he had initially rejected during the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi for reason well recognised by all that mattered in government and Ibadan traditional institution system.
In the meantime, while it is expected that the formalisation process has begun with the relocation of royal drummers from Olakulehin’s residence to Ladoja’s home, our reporter gathered that the Oyo State government is set to make its pronouncement of the new Olubadan of Ibadan Land.
Governor believes that when it is matter of institution, it must be sacrosanct and for this reason, we gathered, all attentions are focusing on him, in his formalise the Olubadan-in-Council’s nomination of Ladoja, as one Oyo State governor, past and present, that would install three Olubadan of Ibadan Land in succession.
