BREAKING: OLUBADAN OF IBADAN JOINS HIS ANCESTORS, AGED 90!

 

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has passed away.

Olakulehin died at the age of 90. Daily Standard gathered that the monarch died in the early hours of Monday.

Olakulehin died during the ongoing 90th birthday and first anniversary coronation celebrations.

Oba Olakulehin received the staff of office from Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde, on July 12, 2024, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Oba Olakulehin ascended the throne from the chieftancy rung of Balogun Olubadan, following the demise of Oba (Dr.) Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who died at the age of 81 years on March 14, 2024.

The 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has passed on at age 90, just two days after his birthday

𝕆𝕝𝕦𝕓𝕒𝕕𝕒𝕟: 6 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗻

1. 𝐎𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

There are two lines of ascension to the throne of Olubadan. These are the Olubadan (Civil) Line and Balogun (Military) Line. After clinching the title of Mogaji from one’s compound. Depending on the line, such a person has 22 stages to climb in the Civil Line while that of the Military Line is 23 towards the throne of Olubadan.  Both lines start from Jagun.

2. 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The two lines of the chieftaincy structure produce Olubadan on a rotational basis. Though there is also one Seriki line, it is meant to be a youth group fused into the Balogun line just as Iyaloja is, to the Civil line. That’s just by the way.

Back to the focus here. The stool of Olubadan is alternated between the Olubadan line and Balogun line. For instance, Oba Dr. Moshood Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II that recently joined his ancestors was from the Olubadan (Civil) line. He succeeded Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogugunso 1 from the military line, who joined his ancestors on 2nd of January, 2022.

Oba Okunmade was also succeeded by Oba Olakulehin, who emerged the Olubadan from the rung of Balogun Olubadan (Military Line) and died recently at the age of 90.

Therefore, the next Olubadan is expected to come from the Civil line.

3. 𝐍𝐨 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞(𝐬)

In most of the Yorùbá Obaship structure, there’s usually two or three ruling houses (or even more) who constitute the royal families. For those places, the ascension to the throne is rotated between only the royal families.

But the Obaship system in Ibadan is different. Anyone can become Olubadan, inasmuch as you’re a true son of Ibadan — and must climb either of the two ladders to the top.

4. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐛𝐚

Though this practice is new to the system. It started when the former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, in an attempt to modernise the system, promoted some High Chiefs and Baales to Oba.

After a fierce battle for the soul of the age-long Ibadan Obaship system, Ajimobi’s successor, Governor Seyi Makinde, withdrew their crowns as part of the condition to settle out of court.

However, the Governor subsequently sought approval of the state House of Assembly to allow traditional heads (high chiefs) to wear beaded crowns by amending section 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law 2023.

Therefore, the governor re-elevated the 10 high chiefs in Olubadan-in-Council to the Obaship status of in July, 2023. But the ascension line of Obaship system remains unchanged.

With this, Ibadan is arguably the first Yorùbá town/city where a lesser Oba is being promoted to become another or better put: a superior Oba.

5. 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡

For most places in Yorùbá land, the attention has shifted to youths in selection of king for their respective town. However, one of the amazing characteristics of the Ibadan Obaship system is how it produces an aged monarch.

This is obviously due to the number of stages one has to pass through before being ranked next in line, and eventually become Olubadan. The promotion in either of the two lines occurs when a successor is picked from the line.

For instance, with an 84-year-old Oba Owólabí Olakulehin succeeding late Ọba Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, there will be promotion in the Balogun (military) line of the Obaship system.

However, the Civil line, headed by the current Otun Olubadan and former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, remains unchanged until the next in line is picked as successor of Oba Owólabí Olakulehin, as new Olubadan.

6. 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭-𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐥𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧

Due to the Ibadan Obaship system, most of the past Olubadans ascended the throne at old age. Let’s take a look at the most recent.

Oba Saliu Adetunji, Aje Ogugunso 1, became the 41st Olubadan on April 4, 2016 at the age of 87 years and passed away in 2022 at the age of 93 years.

His successor, Ọba Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, was crowned 42nd Olubadan on March 11, 2022 at the age of 79 years and died on Thursday, 14th March 2024 at the age of 81 years.

Following the demise of Oba Okunmade, Oba Olakulehin succeeded him and recently died at the age of 90 years on Monday, July 7, 2025.

However, while many of these Obas had short-lived reigns as Olubadan, Oba Okunola Abaasi Alesinloye Isale Ijebu reigned for 16 years. He ruled between 1930 and 1946.

𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚: 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐞, 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡