The Osi Olubadan and former Governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, has denied declaring the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, as the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Ladoja spoke on Thursday shortly after media reports quoted him as having declared his support for Balogun as Olubadan.
Traditionally, the next heir to the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland is the Otun Olubadan.
But Ladoja said he was quoted out of context in the report that went viral on Thursday.
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, Barrister Michael Lana.
“I did not know anything about it.”