Lekan Balogun Crowned 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan

Succession crisis over as time-tested formula prevails

Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Lekan Balogun

Once again history was made in the ancient city of Ibadan with the smooth coronation of Senator Lekan Balogun as the new Olubadan of Ibadan. This had put paid to the controversy that dogged the steps of the traditional institution. "By the power conferred on me under the relevant sections of the Oyo State chieftaincy law, I hereby present to you the staff of office of the Olubadan of Ibadan land". With these words, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde brought to a seeming end the controversy over the Obaship in the ancient city which for the first time in the long history of the city almost derailed that traditional rulership. Governor Seyi Makinde who with the evident joy of a general that has just won a victory, displayed a copy of the instrument of office to the applauding crowd said " you see that I have signed this and it is the instrument of office which I hereby present to the Kabiyesi".

With the staff of office, a sparkling white newly made staff, and the two-page hard card instrument of office, Oba Olalekan Ishola Balogun at 12.32pm became the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadan land, 11th March 2022. The coronation of Oba Olalekan Balogun was followed by the traditional prostration of all members of the Obas in Council for the king, which was led by a former governor of the state, Alhaji Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, the next in rank to the Olubadan. Ladoja had been embroiled in a legal tangle with Lekan Balogun. His grouse was whether it was proper that Lekan Balogun should be crowned as Olubadan after being installed as one of lesser Obas by Governor Ajimobi, alongside other six Obas created by him in an attempt to split the chiefdoms in the sprawling city into six. The prostration symbolized the acceptance of the new Olubadan by the Council.

Thenew Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun has promised not to let Ibadan down during his reign.

He made this promise at his coronation where the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, presented him with the staff of office and the instrument of office amidst singing and drumming at a well attended ceremony at the Mapo Hall l.

The monarch in his maiden speech thanked dignitaries and the people of Ibadan for their support for him to ascend the throne after 36 years as the Mogaji of Ali Iwo.

In his remarks, Makinde urged monarchs not to dabble in politics.

“No politician can destroy any system without the cooperation of people in the system,” he added.

The Olubadan who arrived at the Mapo Hall venue of the coronation had journeyed from the 'Ipebi', the place where all the traditional rituals are performed before the official presentation of the staff of office. "That Ipebi rituals performed by the Araba, the chief priest of the city, at a place called 'Iba,' is the real ceremony that distinguishes this Oba from the lesser Obas installed by Governor Ajimobi. During the installation for six Obas by Governor Ajimobi, they did not go to the Ipebi and that invalidates their coronation," an elder informed this reporter. But is the controversy ended? What will the reign of Oba Lekan Balogun, Okunmade 11, look like. That’s what is engaging the attention of opinion moulders in the city. What does that controversy itself portend having never been any such happening in the long history of the city known for its wars and orderly succession to the throne, an old woman queried?

Oba Lekan Balogun is well educated. He started his educational pursuit at CAC modern school, Anlugbua, Ibadan. Thereafter he undertook private study through a correspondence college, Rapid Result, where he obtained the General Certificate of Education. He later proceeded to the United Kingdom where he bagged both a first degree and a Ph.D. in Administration and Economics. Oba Lekan Balogun, returned to Nigeria to pick a job at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.Soonafter he left to take another employment at Shell Petroleum as administration staff. But Balogun’s sojourn at Shell was short-lived. He found it impossible to work against the downtrodden which he always wanted to defend against the corporate interest of the Oil company. His job at Shell compelled him to defend the interests of his employers against the poor workers, and so he left even though he enjoyed rapid promotion while serving in Shell. Later, he joined politics teaming up with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) of Mallam Aminu Kano, the popular defender of the 'talakawa', the poor masses.

With this background of activism, Oba Lekan Balogun contested governorship on the platform of the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. His bid for the governorship was not successful. Thereafter he was later elected as senator under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). After his stint in politics, Balogun later decided to serve via the route of the traditional institution. He became a Mogaji, the head of his family line. He left politics because he believes that politics and traditional institutions are mutually exclusive. But it does not seem his activism left him. That may have been the reason for his disagreement with his predecessor Oba Saliu Adetunji, whom he charged with running a one-man show in the Oba in Council. The late Oba reportedly replied that there can’t be two Obas in a city.

With other six members of the Council, who enjoyed the backing of the late Governor Ajimobi who was bent on innovation by splitting the city into six kingdoms, Oba Lekan Balogun, aligned with the ex-governor. The newly created kings were subsequently coronated while the late Oba Saliu Adetunji was given the title of 'Royal Majesty', that is, he was the supreme of all Obas in the city. Governor Ajimobi’s controversial decision as much as it divided the Oba in Council also divided the city. The Oba in Council was thus embroiled in judicial actions against one another. This was resolved when Oba Lekan Balogun, was advised to withdraw his suit and those of his other high chiefs from the court. That paved the way for his coronation.

What will the reign of Oba Lekan Balogun look like? And what does the controversy mean for the traditional institution in Ibadan and the nation generally? An insignia selected by the new Oba speaks volumes. Prominent in it is a photograph of the peacock with all its feathers spreading out in its great glory. The peacock symbolizes pride. The proud bird is the 'king of all birds'; Okin l'oba eiye', in the Yoruba language. Would the reign of the new Oba be with pride? Some think it may. How would Oba Lekan Balogun, comport himself in comparison with other citizens of the city and Nigeria? Would the constitutional provision that makes all Nigerians equal be upheld in practice? If the king is the 'Oba' and other citizens are just birds, so to speak, then there can not be equality, the Okin is superior to other lesser birds. If this is reflective of the mind of the new Oba, many are worried that the equality of all citizens may be sacrificed.

The array of other 'royal majesties' that graced the coronation of Oba Mahood Olalekan Balogun, testify to this inequality and makes a lie of our constitution. At the feet of the Oni of Ife was a page, a fully grown man. There was another one at the feet of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. Another man stood in front of the Alaafin fanning him even when there were huge electric fans everywhere. The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar in attendance has none but dongaris serve the same purpose in the North. They are servants in the courts of the emirs.

With this practice, Nigeria, therefore, is neither republican nor democratic. And it is the reason for the underdevelopment of the nation. There can never be competence, equality, justice, and equity where some are held superior to the others not by any means other than by tradition of birth or favour. If Nigeria is going to tap the potential of its highly talented people, the institutions that give some automatic success, not by their productivity or brain, and consign others to guaranteed failure no matter the quality of their brain and contribution must be urgently reassessed.

One of the traditional elders explained the functions of the Obas within the current modern governance, especially in relation to the Olubadan. According to him, the Olubadan has the 'mogajis' who oversee their compounds and report happenings to him. They live in the towns and have the baales who oversee the villages and report to the mogajis. The Olubadan in turn reports to the governor happenings in the towns and villages. But this is exactly what the retinue of local government councillors, the members of the State House of Assembly, the members of the House of Representatives, the senators, all elected by the people, do. What then is the necessity for another level of unelected traditional people? It is none but duplication and it is the reason why more money than necessary is spent to run our governments.

The coronation of Oba Mahood Olalekan Balogun featured state of the art canopies, a state of the art television coverage in screens and drones; the shutting down of commerce in the city for one day, the diversion of traffic for one whole day in obeisance to the king as the official reason, entertainment for the privileged visiting politicians and chiefs at the presidential lodge in the governor's office. It will be recalled that all states during the Obasanjo administration had to build presidential lodges. Also, another party was held the next day after the coronation. All this is nothing but a colossal waste of scarce resources. The general impression is that when leaders say there is less money to run the state, what they are saying in effect is there is no money to waste and steal. Grand ceremonies meant to celebrate the coronation for institutions that are out of tune with modernity are drainpipes to our dwindling economy.