Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde will install and present staff of office to Sen. Lekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland on March 11.
A source said the date was in line with an earlier recommendation by the Olubadan-in-council, who noted that they would present a time frame of mid-March to the governor as recommendation of the council so that coronation activities would have been concluded ahead of the coming Ibadan Festival and Ramadan Fast, also scheduled for March.
The Olubadan-in-council urged Ibadan indigenes and residents to wait till the new Olubadan takes staff of office officially before presenting their desires for prompt attention under the new dispensation.
The governor on February 14 approved the selection of Balogun to assume the exalted Olubadan throne.
The confirmation of the date for the installation was contained in a letter by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftain Matters, Dr. Bashir Olanrewaju, and addressed to the Olubadan-designate.
The two paragraphed letter with reference number CB.211/10/155 was titled: “Installation Ceremony: Olubadan of Ibadan”.
The Mogaji in Ibadanland said yesterday that the era of cash-and-carry chieftaincy titles is gone.
They spoke when they visited Olubadan- designate Balogun.
They appealed to the incoming monarch to inform and involve them in assessment of candidates for the positions of Mogaji and Baale, to prevent miscreants and people of questionable characters from breaking into Ibadan traditional royal system.
The Mogaji pledged their support to the new Olubadan to ensure that traditional chieftaincy requests would be granted on merit and not by financial inducement. They said honorary titles could be granted at the discretion of the new monarch and the council.
Speaking on behalf of the Mogaji, the President, Association of Mogaji in Ibadanland, Asimiyu Ariori, sought financial autonomy for the palace of Olubadan through the creation of Royal Investment Fund.
He said the palace must not lack required financial needs.
The Mogaji urged stakeholders to create a working investment funding system capable of solving the financial needs of the monarch and the palace.
The Mogaji congratulated Balogun on his emergence as the 42nd Olubadan.
They said a positive era in the history of Ibadanland has begun.
