By Kolawole Olayinka, Abeokuta
Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, the Olori-Omoba of Ijebuland, has debunked the information trending on social media that he, as the Olori-ebi (Family Head) of Fusengbuwa, one of the largest ruling houses in Ijebuland, is positioning his son, Ladi Balogun, to be the next Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
Recall that the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, had warned the Kingmakers at the 2019 Ojude-Oba Festival not to politicise selection of his successor by allowing the moneybags to truncate the selection process leading to emergence of new Awujale when he (Awujale) quits the stage.
It was reported that this statement made by Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, sparked off series of debates among the sons and daughters of Ijebuland as to who becomes the next Awujale.
This prompted a news item claiming the founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Olori-ebi Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Olasubomi Balogun has begun immediate positioning of his son, Ladi Balogun, who is Group Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, to replace the current Awujale.
Speaking on the telephone with our correspondent as regards the rumour making rounds on the purported positioning of Ladi Balogun to replace the current Awujale, Olasubomi Balogun expressed dissatisfaction over the mischief being orchestrated by the enemies of Awujale’s stool, the Ijebus and Ijebuland.
He said it was callous, inhuman and ungodly to wish your fellow human dead, as being demonstrated by those behind the mischief, saying it is a taboo in Yorubaland to be scheming for Oba’s successor when a reigning monarch is still hale and hearty.
He also added that Ladi, his son, is too busy at FCMB at present, for him to be planning to succeed Awujale.
He said: “I am most disappointed with the writers and those that are fueling the rumour that I am plotting my son – Oladipupo Balogun, who is handling the affairs of my business, to be the next Awujale of Ijebuland, while the Alaiyeluwa is still very much alive.
“We all know that Awujale Oba Adetona and I are friends, both of us are still alive. If Awujale should make a pronouncement, does that mean they should drag my name to sell their stories?
“I happen to be the Olori Omoba, and providence has placed me in a situation in which everybody will expect me to be close to the Awujale and be supportive of whatever he is doing by way of our culture and tradition.
“Secondly, people know me as a very senior member of royalty in Ijebuland, apart from being the Olori Omoba, I am the Olori-ebi of one of the largest ruling houses in Ijebuland”.
The post Ladi Balogun is Busier at FCMB than Planning to Become Next Awujale – Father appeared first on Western Post News.
