Senator Rashidi Ladoja has said he has no grudge against the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun CFR, Alli Okunmade II.
This was as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan clarified that he has no reason to fight the foremost Ibadan traditional ruler.
Senator Ladoja clarified when he paid the first-class traditional ruler a visit at his Alarere residence, on Tuesday.
The former governor of Oyo State reportedly disclosed that he had no misgivings whatsoever with Oba Balogun.
Senator Ladoja reportedly said these, according to a statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola.
The former governor was quoted to have said “On no account would he fight with his brother and friend, the Olubadan.”
Similarly, Oba Balogun also told Ladoja that he too had nothing whatsoever against the former governor.
The Olubadan said he knew all along that there was nothing to warrant any form of a quarrel between the two of them.
High Chief Ladoja was quoted to have said that he has been out of town for some time, hence his inability to have seen the Olubadan since.
Ladoja also assured that he would be coming to meetings of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
He admitted to havingness been absenting himself from the meetings since sometime last year.
The former governor was also said to have given some useful advice on how to well position the Olubadan Advisory Council.
He spoke on the controversy over the recent elevation and crowning of his colleague high chiefs as beaded crown-wearing obas.
Ladoja said he had nothing against the development, the court action he instituted against the development notwithstanding.
He however insisted that the elevation must not come from the state government. He stressed that he remained committed to his conviction.
The former governor recalled that he was part of the discussion when it started at the meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
He maintained that he was committed to whatever would protect the Ibadan traditional institution.
Recalled that Oba Balogun, on 7 July, elevated 10 high chiefs. He presented them with Staff of Office as beaded crown-wearing obas at a ceremony held at Mapo Hall.
The Olubadan had insisted that the elevation of the 10 high chiefs as beaded crown-wearing obas was his initiative.
He said he was the one who made a request, early this year, to the Oyo State government to elevate his cabinet members to beaded crown-wearing obas.
Olubadan subsequently wrote two letters to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to request the governor’s approval to perform the elevation exercise.
Oba Balogun had stated in the second letter thus: “In doing this, I rely on the Chieftaincy Law in the state which confers on me the Prescribed and Consenting Authority over chieftaincy titles in my domain.”
Governor Makinde, who witnessed the crowning of the high chiefs, also attested that the development was at the behest of the Olubadan.
However, Senator Ladoja stayed away from the event. He approached the court to seek the nullification of the elevation and crowning of the 10 high chiefs as obas.
Oba Balogun, the 10 high chiefs, Governor Makinde, and the Attorney General of Oyo State were joined as defendants in the suit.
