Ibadan is unique when it comes to choice of Olubadan. Unlike the practice in most Yoruba towns where many people jostle to succeed departed monarch.
For Olubadan stool, there is no need for kingmakers to consult an oracle before picking the next monarch one existing king joined his ancestors.
Unlike many towns in Yorubaland where ruling house exist, all indigenes of Ibadan are potential Olubadan.The Olubadan-in-Council, which is the group of kingmakers, comprise the monarch and the high chiefs.
Available record showed that ascension to Olubadan stool is rotated between two lines — Olubadan, Egbe Agba (civil) and Balogun (military).
When an Olubadan dies, one of the topmost chiefs from both lines ascends the throne based on the principle of rotation.
From Jagun, candidates climb 21 steps before emerging as the Olubadan on the Otun Olubadan line, while candidates climb 22 other steps on the Balogun line.
If one dies on the Otun side, the Balogun produces the next Olubadan.
For instance, the late Olubadan, Oba Odulana Odugade, was in line of the Otun, while Oba Saliu Adetunji, emerged from the Balogun line.
Adetunji, who was crowned the 41st Olubadan on March 4, 2016, was born on August 26, 1928 to the family of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji in the Alusekere compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan.
Oba Adetunji became Mogaji (the head of his family) in 1976.
He became Jagun Balogun in 1978 and eventually, after almost 38 years on the ladder, he became Olubadan in 2016.
The promotion in the line of Otun Olubadan follows this pattern: From Jagun – Ajia – Bada – Aare Onibon – Gbonnka – Aare-Egbe Omo – Oota – Lagunna – Are-Ago – Ayingun – Asaju – Ikolaba – Aare-Alasa – Agba-Akin – Ekefa – Maye – Abese – Ekaarun Olubadan – Ekerin Olubadan – Ashipa Olubadan – Osi Olubadan – Otun Olubadan, before emerging as Olubadan.
For the Balogun line, similar steps follow this pattern: Jagun – Ajia – Bada – Aare Onibon – Gbonnka – Aare-Egbe Omo – Oota – Lagunna – Are-Ago – Ayingun – Asaju – Ikolaba – Aare-Alasa – Agba-Akin – Ekefa – Maye – Abese – Ekaarun Balogun – Ekerin Balogun – Ashipa Balogun – Osi Balogun – Otun Balogun – Balogun, before eventual emergence as Olubadan.
According to laid down hierarchy of ascension to Olubadan stool, there are strong indication Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator (Dr) Mashood Lekan Balogun may be next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
