Owolabi Olakulehin to succeed after Lekan Balogun as new Olubadan of Ibadan

 

Owolabi Olakulehin will succeed the late Oba Lekan Balogun as the new Olubadan of Ibadan.

Oba Lekan died at the age of 81 on Thursday, March 14, 2024, following a brief illness.

Following the revelation of the monarch's death, there was widespread speculation on social and mainstream media over who might succeed the late Oba Lekan Balogun.

According to the findings, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ibadanland's Balogun and leader of the military line in the Olubadan system, is the next in line to become the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Olubadan ascendance is a unique case in the Yoruba story. This is because the most senior chief is promoted and succeeds to the position of Olubadan. unlike others, which are totally hereditary.

The selection of who becomes the monarch of one of Africa's largest cities is according to the amended Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration, order, dated February 11, 2022, in light of the judgments of the Oyo State High Court on February 1 and 10, 2022, as well as sections 7, 20, 26, and 30 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State 2000.

The above identified two reigning lines leading to the formation of the Olubadan. The first is the Egbe Agba (civil), and the second is the Balogun line (military). The Olubadan seat is filled by rotating candidates from the two lines upon the death of each Olubadan.

The law said that the following Olubadan would be Otun Olubadan or Balogun. Olokukehin is the

The current Balogun of Ibadanland is the military head of the Olubadan chieftaincy system.

The death of Oba Balogun would result in a significant shift in the leadership of the Olubadan Hierarchy because the late king was from the Egbe Agba, which is civil, and authority would move to the Balogun.

In 2015, the 41st Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Oguguniso I, came from the Balogun line, while his successor, Oba Balogun, came from the Otun line, necessitating a return to the military line.

According to tradition, the next in line to Olakulehin following his coronation is High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, who leads the civil line as Otun Olubadan of Ibadan.

Olakulehin is from the Okugbaja family in the Ita Baale area.

He is an ex-serviceman, having served in the Nigerian Army.

He ran for and won the Federal House of Representatives elections in 1992, representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the Third Republic.