‘I Was Misquoted’ – Ladoja Denies Backing Balogun As Olubadan-Elect

Former Governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Rasheed Ladoja has denied supporting the nomination of Senator Lekan Balogun as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Ladoja was reacting to reports that he had backed the decision of the Ibadan kingmakers to endorse the nomination of High Chief Balogun as the next Olubadan.

Naija News reports that Ladoja was absent at the meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council to endorse Balogun held on Wednesday at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital.

The former governor refuted reports saying that the Otun Olubadan will be the next Olubadan, claiming that he was misquoted.

Ladoja also denied his involvement in the letter written by the former Commissioner for Justice in the state, Michael Lana, opposing Balogun’s imminent ascension to the throne.

He said: “In my comment, I did not say High Chief Lekan Balogun will be the next Olubadan or not.

“I said and quote me, Otun Olubadan, traditionally is the next heir to the throne of Olubadan, but in this regard, I’m not talking about the nomination of Lekan Balogun.

“There was no time, I said I backed his nomination or not. Please, only report what I said, and don’t quote me out of context.

“It is a known fact that, in Ibadan tradition, the Otun Olubadan traditionally becomes the next Olubadan after the exit of the Olubadan.”

“That explanation should not be misconstrued to mean I’m in support of his nomination as the next Olubadan or not.”

“Let it be also known that I have no hand in the letter written by an Ibadan-born lawyer and former justice commissioner, Barr. Michael Lana. I did not know anything about it.”