Oluyole: What to know about Olubadan ascension template, the in-coming 43rd Olubadan, and why Ifa (oracle) has little or no role in who becomes King of West Africa’s biggest city
The Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, will be crowned as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland subject to the approval of the state governor, Seyi Makinde, Platforms Africa reports.
He will be crowned following the demise of the 42nd Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, on Thursday.
He is the next in line to the late Olubadan.
Confirming the death of the monarch, Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said Oba Balogun died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.
The late monarch, who was born on October 18, 1942, reigned for two years.
He will be buried according to Islamic rights on Friday at 4 pm.
The next in line, Olakulehin, who heads the Balogun line, hails from Ita Baale in Ibadan North East Local Government.
He was a member of the House of Representative in the Third Republic
It is expected that palace drummers will move from Alli-Iwo to the Ita Baale Palace of Ọba Olakulehin, heralding his symbolic ascension to the throne.
Ibadan is unique with an ascension template for Olubadan.
The town, which operates hierarchical template, has an age-long tradition of choosing the next in rank to Olubadan as the next king.
With this arrangement, Ifa (oracle) has no role to play in who becomes Olubadan, unlike in other parts of Yorubaland.
