Recently, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja was installed as a beaded crown-wearing monarch. The former governor who doubles as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, accepted to..
. By Adenike Kaffi, Ibadan Recently, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja was installed as a beaded crown-wearing monarch. The former governor who doubles as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, accepted to wear the beaded crown in fulfilment of the requirements of the amended Chief’s law.
The surprising turn of events generated debates among sociopolitical circles within and outside the state because of Ladoja’s earlier stance against the crown, which he had on different occasions referred to as ‘ade paali’ meaning; ‘the cardboard crown’. According to its advocates, the beaded crown for members of the Olubadan-in-council is a ceremonial one which honours the high chiefs who become addressed as Obas (Kings) under the imperial majesty of the Olubadan, yet retain their constitutional and customary duties of member of the Olubadan-in-council. By implication, every Olubadan, after the late Oba Lekan Balogun, is already an Oba before assuming the Olubadan throne.
Ladoja, who had hitherto opposed the idea, described it as an unnecessary innovation introduced to the chieftaincy system in Ibadanland, hence he refused the crown and insisted on wearing only the Olubadan crown. This brought him in conflict with the Seyi Makinde-led administration and led to confrontations with other members of the Olubadan-in-council, who thre.