Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Senator Lekan Balogun, is now tipped as the next Olubadan of Ibadan following the demise of Oba Saliu Adetunji according to the laid down hierarchy of ascension to the Ibadan throne.
Oba Adetunji Aje Oguguniso I, joined his ancestors, aged 93, yesterday, after a brief illness and has been interred according to Islamic injunctions. He was laid to rest at his Popo Yemoja palace in a ceremony that Otun Olubadan, and other chiefs did not attend. The Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun and other members of the Olubadan-in-Council were absent at the burial except High Chief Rasheed Ladoja, who accompanied Oyo State Deputy Governor, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
The hierarchical arrangement in the Ibadan system has a two-line approach, the Balogun system (military chiefs) and the Olubadan (Otun) system.
Olubadans are appointed on rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch. The next to Olubadan and most senior on both lines are the Otun Olubadan and Balogun.
The 10 chiefs on the line to be crowned as Olubadan are Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan; Owolabi Olakulehin, Balogun Olubada n; Rashidi Ladoja, Osi Olubadan; Olufemi Olaifa, Otun Balogun; Eddy Oyewole, Ashipa Olubadan; Tajudeen Ajibola, Osi Balogun; Amidu Ajibade, Ekaarun Olubadan; Lateef Gbadamosi, Ashipa Balogun Olubadan; Kola Adegbola, Ekarun Balogun ; and Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Ekerin Olubadan .
Oba Saliu Adetunji was crowned the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan following his coronation on March 4, 2016.
Prior to his coronation, Oba Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land which indicates that the Otun Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun may be next in line, according to the rotational system.
Oba Adetunji passed on in the early hours of yesterday, at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Olubadan died 22 days after the death of Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Ajagungbade III. Oba Adetunji was crowned Olubadan after the demise of Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade in 2016.