Fresh uncertainty has emerged over the planned coronation of three Ibadan high chiefs to the status of beaded-crown wearing Obas, following indications that the ceremony may no longer hold as scheduled.
The development comes after the three affected high chiefs reportedly informed the Olubadan of Ibadanland that they would be unavailable for the event and had requested that the coronation be postponed.
The clarification was made public by the media aide to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief Adeola Oloko, who dismissed growing speculation that the delay was connected to any disagreement between the palace and the Oyo State Government.
According to the palace, there is no rift between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, contrary to reports and public assumptions circulating in some quarters.
The palace also moved to debunk rumours that the Olubadan had travelled out of Ibadan in order to avoid participating in the ceremony.
It was explained that the monarch remains in Ibadan, is in good health, and continues to carry out his responsibilities as the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The clarification appears to have become necessary amid rising speculation surrounding the planned event and its political and traditional implications.
The coronation had been scheduled by the Oyo State Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, with the event expected to take place on Friday, April 3, at the historic Mapo Hall.
The ceremony was expected to formally elevate the three chiefs into the rank of crown-wearing Obas within the Ibadan traditional hierarchy, a development regarded as significant within the city’s unique chieftaincy and succession structure.
However, the latest disclosure from the palace has cast serious doubt on whether the event can proceed as planned, especially with the principal figures said to be unavailable.
According to the palace, the request for postponement from the three high chiefs has already been officially communicated to the state government through the appropriate ministry.
That communication is expected to guide the next line of action by the government regarding whether the coronation will still proceed, be formally postponed, or be rescheduled to a later date.
The development has generated fresh interest across Ibadan and beyond, particularly because of the personalities involved and the broader conversations surrounding the timing of the planned elevation.
The issue has also stirred discussions in both traditional and political circles, where the proposed elevation of some of the chiefs has attracted attention beyond the palace.
One of the names at the centre of the public conversation is Senator Sharafadeen Alli, whose elevation has drawn widespread interest due to ongoing political speculation ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State.
Political observers in the state have interpreted the move in different ways, with some suggesting that the elevation of the senator to obaship status could have implications for his possible political future.
This is because of the long-standing debate over whether traditional status and active partisan political ambition can comfortably coexist in such circumstances.
Although no official connection has been established between the coronation and any political agenda, the timing of the planned ceremony has continued to fuel debate among political stakeholders and residents alike.
For many in Ibadan, the matter goes beyond politics and touches on the deeper sensitivities surrounding the city’s traditional institution, succession system, and the evolving structure of the Olubadan chieftaincy line.
Ibadan’s traditional system is regarded as one of the most structured and historically rooted in Yorubaland, and any move affecting the rank, title or future positioning of high chiefs often attracts intense public interest.
The possibility of postponement has therefore become a major talking point, especially as many had expected the ceremony to serve as a major cultural and symbolic event in the city.
The palace’s intervention, however, appears aimed at calming tensions and correcting what it sees as misleading narratives around the issue.
By denying any misunderstanding between the state government and the Olubadan, the palace is also attempting to preserve public confidence in the relationship between the traditional institution and the state authorities.
This is important because any perceived friction between both sides could easily deepen controversy around the already sensitive issue of coronation and title elevation in Ibadanland.
As of now, attention remains focused on whether the Oyo State Government will proceed with the ceremony despite the reported unavailability of the three chiefs, or whether an official postponement will be announced.
Whatever decision is eventually taken, the development has already heightened public interest and added another layer of intrigue to the evolving conversation around tradition, politics and power in Ibadanland.
For now, what is clear is that the palace has formally stated its position: the Olubadan is in Ibadan, there is no rift with the government, and the affected chiefs have asked for the ceremony to be postponed.
Whether that request will be granted remains the major question ahead of the planned event.
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