Peace, cohesion and unity are fully returning to the divided Olubadan-in-Council.

This follows moves by Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja’s out-of-court settlement plan.

Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State, is in court against the enthronement of his colleagues as obas last year. It was his second time of challenging their enthronement.

The Otun Olubadan had challenged their enthronement in 2017 by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, and won. The judgment was later used to force the council members to drop their crowns as the condition for enthroning the late Oba Lekan Balogun in 2022.

When Governor Seyi Makinde re-enthroned them last year, Ladoja, who refused to accept the elevation as oba for the second time, returned to court, seeking the nullification of the enthronement. The case is still being heard.

But Oba Balogun’s demise on March 14 heightened the tension between the former governor and the Obas as he is the only one more step closer to the Olubadan throne. Ladoja is the current head of the Otun line, and it will be his turn to mount the throne whenever the crown returns to the line. Oba Balogun was on the Otun line.

He said the disposition of other members of the council, who will nominate him when it is his turn to mount the throne, has become a source of concern to the former governor.

The obas shunned a meeting called by him a fortnight ago during which he expected that Oba Owolabi Olakulehin would be nominated and pronounced the next Olubadan.

Rather, the obas held a meeting the day before and decided that they would not pronounce Olakulehin, who did not make a public appearance since Oba Balogun joined his ancestors.

Oba Olakulehin eventually showed up on Friday.

It was learnt that with the intervention of Ibadan elders, both parties are very close to reaching an out-of-court settlement that will end the bitterness and also clear the way for Ladoja to be nominated by his colleagues when the throne return to Otun line.

Both parties were putting finishing touches on the agreement at the weekend, pointing to the possibility of a permanent truce during the week.

The obas had last year refused to allow Ladoja join their routine meeting, insisting that they could not hold meetings with a colleague who dragged them to court seeking their dethronement. (The Nation)

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