Gbenro Adesina
With the demise of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji. Ajeogungunniso 1, on Sunday January 2, 2022, well wishers have started to throng the residence of the incoming Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land at Alarere crescent, off New Ife Road, Ibadan.
Among the early callers were some Mogajis, family members, politicians and notable Nigerians, who trooped into the residence to pay homage to the incoming monarch of the ancient city.
On guard to secure the monarch and the area were security operatives, mostly policemen, local hunters including Agbekoya, who were armed with guns.
The79 year old king -in-waiting, who was attending to the visitors, could not hide his joy for being alive to ascend the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
There was cooking and feasting and merry making at the new palace and the family of the new monarch were seen discussing and rejoicing, appreciating God for the priviledge they have to produce the Olubadan.
A Mogaji, who did not want his name to be mentioned said, “I am here to pay homage to the new Olubadan of Ibadanland. Except God has chosen someone, one cannot be Olubadan in Ibadanland. Oba Lekan Balogun is a unique man. He is educated. He is a successful man. He is also a successful businessman. He is loved by young and old. He takes life simple. He is one of the best that can happen to Ibadanland”.
Senator Balogun sits on the Board of several companies with interests in Oil and Gas, Distributive Trade, Management Consulting, Mechanized Farming and Export of non-oil items as well as Travels and Tourism.
Erstwhile Administrator/Head, Industrial Relations, Recruitment and Scholarships, Planning and Development at Shell Petroleum Development Company, Senator Lekan Balogun was also a Research Fellow with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; a Director with Triumph Newspaper, Kano; Editor of the Monthly Magazine-“The Nigerian Pathfinder” as well as Management Consultant for Multinational Organizations such as Leyland, Exide Battery and Nigerian Breweries. He is a renowned technocrat, author and philanthropist.
He holds a Doctorate, Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Public Administration; Public and Social Administration and Economics from Columbus International University, Brunel University and Manchester University, all in the United Kingdom.
A former Presidential Aspirant on the platform of SDP, Senator Balogun was also a Gubernatorial Candidate for the PDP in Oyo State in the present political dispensation and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic. He was Chairman Senate Committee on National Planning and was a member to many Senate Committees such as Appropriations, Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs and Defence (Army).
Senator Balogun has written and published widely. Many of his publications include but not limited to; A Review of Nigeria’s 4 years’ Development Plan, 1970-1974; Nigeria: Social Justice or Doom; Power for Sale: published in Punch Newspaper; Arrogance of Power; Nigeria: The people must decide, among other publications.
