Olubadan unprecedented deadlock rocks Ibadan.

The cloud over the Ibadan Traditional Council since the late Oba Olalekan Balogun Alli Okunmade 11 joined his ancestors on March 14, 2024 is yet to abate as controversy thickens over the health status of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

The issue of the fitness of the next in line to assume the Olubadan stool has created a deep gulf within the 10-member Olubadan-in-Council and the gulf is widening even after the expiration of the 21-day mourning period of the deceased king which lapsed on April 5,2024.

This is unprecedented in the history of the town that an Olubadan-designate will be enmeshed in a controversy on whether he is fit or not to ascend the throne.

When the process to enthrone the 43rd Olubadan is supposed to have reached the climax, the 10-member kingmakers, who used to speak with one voice, began to churn out discordant tunes over the next Olubadan.

At a time, Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, who is the most senior member of the Olubadan-in-Council, called a meeting but only him, the convener, turned up.

All the remaining eight members boycotted the meeting.

After the mediatory role played by some prominent Ibadan indigenes at the residence of Chief Bode Amao, an industrialist, some kingmakers agreed to sheathe their swords.