Contrary to the traditional ways of installing kings in Yorubaland, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, AlIi Okumade 11, on Friday, September 1, 2023, crowned 34 baales (village chiefs) as kings in Ibadanland.
Among the kings are Alaba of Abanla, Oba Tiamiyu Olubiyi Oladipupo, who is 116 years of age and Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Victor Sunday Okunola who is over 80 years of age.
Unlike the traditional style of a king installation, where a king will majestically sit on a throne, where he would be crowned from his back with Akoko leaves on one or two of his head, the newly installed Ibadan Obas filed out and in standing, the crown was put on their heads without Akoko leaves.
While some traditionalists who witnessed the event called the attention of the Olubadan and members of his council to the absence of the Akoko leaf of which they were told that the Akoko leaf was not needed for the kind of the newly baales elevated to kings.
Before crowning the new kings, they were asked to prostrate for the Olubadan and his council, warning them against being rude to Olubadan and Olubadan-in-Council, of which the consequence would be grievance.
Among the conditions given to the new kings are that at no time will they use a crown that covers their face, and they must not be involved in land grabbing.
Ekefa Olubadan, Oloye Lekan Alabi took the new kings through the oath of office. The new kings collectively swore to Olubadan of Ibadanland the Olubadan-in-Council and Ibadanland that they would not abuse their crowns as kings to disrespect or dishonour Olubadan and Olubadan-in-Council, they would never use beaded crowns that cover their face like that of Olubadan, that they would not abuse their crown by involving in wrongdoings including grabbing , or use force to collect people’s landed property, that they would not use their position to support illegality including supporting people that contravene the law of the land, that they are ready to relinquish their position as kings if found wanting in any way that can bring dishonour to the town he is presiding over or Ibadanland generally, that their authorities do not extend beyond the town Olubadan asked them to rule over and that Olubadan is the head and consent authority for all the kings in Ibadanland and that their offices would be used for the development of Ibadanland.
The newly installed kings from their respective local government areas are:
Akinyele LG.
1. HRH, Oba Lasisi Akano- Onijaye of Ijaye.
2. HRH, Oba Ismaila Olasunkanmi Abioye Opeola- Oniroko of Iroko.
3. HRH, Oba Moses Olasunkanmi Akinyosoye- Onikereku of Ikereku.
4. HRH, Oba James Oluyemi Odeniran- Alakinyele of Akinyele.
5. HRH, Oba Kareem Adigun- Onimoniya of Moniya.
Ona-Ara LG.
1. HRH, Oba Adebowale Kamorudeen Adeyemi, JP- Oniladuntan of Laduntan.
2. HRH, Oba Mudasiru Musa- Alararo of Araro.
3. HRH, Oba (Engr.) Nureni Yusuf Adegbenro- Alajia of Ajia Moja Opo.
4. HRH, Oba Muili Mosaderin- Ololosunde of Olosunde.
5. HRH, Oba Yekini Obisesan- Alakanran of Akanran.
6. HRH, Oba Richard Adesokan Olunloyo- Ololunloyo- of Olunloyo.
Egbeda LG.
1. HRH, Oba Suleiman Akinsola Oladepo- Alajia of Ajia Adepoju Olorungbuji.
2. HRH, Oba Victor Sunday Okunola- Elegbeda of Egbeda.
3. HRH, Oba Oyesola Oyerinde- Elerunmu of Erunmu.
4. HRH, Oba Mudasiru Omodele Adebayo- Ololodo of Olodo.
5. HRH, Oba Saliu Oguntayo- Onisade of Isade.
Ido LG
1. HRH, Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola- Onido of Ido.
2. HRH, Oba Olabamiji Ahmed Thomas- Akufo of Akufo.
3. HRH, Oba Rapheal Adebayo- Olomi of Omi-Adio.
4. HRH, Oba Dauda Omotosho- Alawotan of Awotan.
5. HRH, Oba (Alhaji) Wahab Olabamiji Okedina- Oloke of Okelade-Okin.
6. HRH, Oba Raimi Bolarinwa Idowu- Alapete of Apete.
7. HRH, Oba Dauda Salami- Onisiba of Siba.
Lagelu LG
1. HRH, Oba Arigbabuwo Muniru Adekunle- Onilalupon of Lalupon.
2. HRH, Oba Najimudeen Olalekan Bello- Onilagun of Lagun.
3. HRH. Oba Adeboye Salako- Olofa of Ofa-Igbo.
4. HRH, Oba Sabitu Oyetunde- Onile- Igbon of Ile-Igbon.
5. HRH, Oba Adesina Basiru- Elejioku of Ejioku.
6. HRH, Oba Samuel Abiodun Folarin- Olorunda of Olorunda-Abaa.
7. HRH, Oba Ojo Victor Olajide Oyedepo Olabamiji- Ologburo of Ogburo.
8. HRH, Oba Tairu Ademola Akande, JP- Olodooba of Odo-Oba.
Oluyole LG.
1. HRH, Oba Muritala Salami Olumini- Onidiayunre of Idi-Ayunre.
2. HRH, Oba Yekini Olatunde- Onilatunde of Latunde.
3. HRH, Oba Tiamiyu Olubiyi Oladipupo- Alaba of Abanla.
