The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has declared that wealth and influence will no longer determine entry into the revered Olubadan chieftaincy line, insisting that only credible and community-oriented leaders will henceforth be considered.

Speaking at the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, the monarch made this known while conferring the traditional title of Jagun Olubadan on Mogaji Fajinmi, Chief Oladiran Alabi Yeronbi.

Oba Ladoja stressed that the era when eligible applicants could secure entry into the Olubadan line through the offer of huge sums of money or influence-peddling had come to an end. Instead, he said prospective Mogajis must now meet stricter criteria rooted in integrity, service, and measurable contributions to society.

The first-class monarch explained that, beyond possessing quality education and visible means of livelihood, applicants would be required to present verifiable evidence of their contributions to the development of their families and Ibadanland at large.

“It is the new standard we have set, not for our own personal benefit but for generations yet unborn,” he said.

According to him, the Olubadan Advisory Council is fully aligned with the new direction, which informed the constitution of three screening committees to assess applications from aspiring Mogajis.

“We have resolved that whenever there is a vacancy for Jagun—the entry point into the Olubadan line—interested Mogajis must apply with demonstrable and verifiable evidence of their contributions to grassroots development,” the monarch added.

Oba Ladoja congratulated Chief Oladiran Alabi Yeronbi, who emerged top among 102 applicants, noting that the selection process was guided strictly by merit.

“We would not like God to sanction us for refusing to give honour to whom it is due,” he said.

While acknowledging the efforts of other applicants, the monarch urged them not to be discouraged, emphasising that their contributions to community development had not gone unnoticed, even as he noted that only one slot was available. (The Guardian)