Elevated Kings Crisis: “We can not hold Advisory Council meetings with Ladoja in attendance” – Oba Owolabi

The elevated kings who are members of the Olubadan Advisory Council have insisted not to sit for council meetings with Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja in attendance.

It was gathered that the elevated Obas took this decision as a result of the court case instituted against their elevation by Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja the former Governor of Oyo State.

Recall that Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, CFR Alli Okunmade II, the Olubadan of Ibadanland in July 2023 elevated all Ibadan High Chiefs to become Obas, except High Chief Ladoja who refused to be elevated.

High Chief Ladoja however, challenged the elevation in court in which Olubadan, all elevated Obas, the governor of Oyo state and the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Oyo state were all sued in the suit that is still pending in court.

Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, one of the High Chief Ladoja’s colleagues who was elevated and is the Balogun of Ibadanland, the next in rank to the Olubadan, seized the floor immediately after the opening prayer was offered by the Palace Chaplain, Pastor Olusoji Adediji, and announced that all the High Chiefs that became Obas had resolved not to hold any of the Advisory Council meetings that the Otun Olubadan would attend.

He said, “We have resolved not to sit with our friend and brother, High Chief Ladoja, Otun Olubadan, pending the conclusion of his court case. Since he has taken us to court, we have all hired lawyers and are waiting for the case to commence.

“What I’m saying here today is the decision of all of us that got elevated and served with court papers instituted by the Otun Olubadan.

“It is a settled matter in Yoruba parlance that people don’t relate as friends after court matters (a kiitikootu de se ore). Not until the court case is decided whichever way, we have resolved not to hold any meeting with High Chief Ladoja in attendance.

The Advisory Council meetings was postponed indefinitely as a result of the crisis between the Obas and High Chief Ladoja.