Exclusive report from OYOINSIGHT.COM revealed that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has taken a controversial step aimed at preventing former Governor Rashidi Ladoja from ascending the prestigious Olubadan throne.
Ladoja, the current Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, is the next-in-line to the Olubadan throne according to the established 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration. However, sources reveal that Governor Makinde has orchestrated a stealthy amendment to the declaration, effectively changing the criteria for the Olubadan selection process.
The key change is the replacement of the phrase “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line” in the amended declaration. This significant alteration poses a direct obstacle to Ladoja’s claim to the throne, as he is the only high chief among the recognized kingmakers of Ibadanland who has refused to wear a beaded crown.
The move is widely seen as an act of political revenge by Makinde, who is reportedly upset that Ladoja did not support the governor’s re-election bid in 2023. The amendment was reportedly rushed through the state’s House of Assembly and swiftly gazetted, catching many by surprise.
Eyewitnesses at the recent coronation ceremony of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the new Olubadan reported that dignitaries had to wait for hours as the organizers ensured that the new amended declaration was inserted into every program pamphlet, sending a clear message to Ladoja and his supporters.
Legal experts have questioned the constitutionality of this targeted legislation, arguing that it violates the provision in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which empowers the state assembly to make laws for the “peace, order and good government of the state” rather than laws aimed at specific individuals.
The former governor’s next move remains uncertain, but sources suggest that Ladoja is aware of Makinde’s plot and may consider a legal challenge to the validity of the new Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration. The stage is set for a high-stakes battle between the two political heavyweights over the prestigious Olubadan throne.
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