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OLUBADAN: Olakulehin’s Absence Fuels Fears • Law Empowers Governor To Pick From Ekerin Upward — Ajibade

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The Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, on Tuesday, raised concern about the absence of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, at a Monday meeting of the Council of Obas to deliberate on the enthronement process of Oba Olakulehin as the new Olubadan.

 

 

The ancient and revered Olubadan stool became vacant on March 14, 2023, following the death of Oba Lekan Balogun.

 

Balogun died aged 81 about two years after ascending the throne.

The Council of Obas would meet on Tuesday to formally nominate Oba Olakulehin to Governor Seyi Makinde as the Olubadan.

 

 

But speaking with newmen Ekerin Olubadan said a meeting was held on Monday but the Olubadan-designate was absent, adding that Oba Olakulehin had not been seen in public since the demise of the late Olubadan, raising concern about the state of Olubadan-designate’s health.

 

 

It was also gathered that there was a rancour between the Council of Chiefs and the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja.

 

 

Speaking on the development on Tuesday, the Ekerin Olubadan said, “We all the crowned kings of Ibadanland held a meeting yesterday (Monday) at Olubadan Palace, Oja’ba in the Ibadan South East Local Government Area of the state except Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Olakulehin.

 

 

“Oba Eddy Oyewole, followed by the Otun Balogun, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Oba John Dada, Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Muritala Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeez.

 

 

“Baba Eddy is the one leading us now. All of us are royal majesties. That’s about nine of us. By the power of the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, we are the kings that the late Olubadan gave beaded crowns. The only person who was not at the meeting was Oba Olakulehin and the High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, the former Governor of the state. He is Otun Olubadan, a Chief and not an Oba.”

 

 

The Ekerin Olubadan said not much could be achieved at the Monday meeting with the absence of Oba Olakulehin, who is the Olubadan-designate.

 

 

“When we meet, we should know what to do and the next step of action. We visited his (Olakulehin’s) house a day after the late Oba Balogun joined his ancestors and Baba (Olakulehin) was not at home. We met with his son, former Commissioner, Sunday Owolabi, and he told us Baba was not around.

 

 

So, we told him that anytime Baba was around, he should let us know, so as to come back and pay homage to him as our next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

 

 

“Nobody can decide for us. We will decide for ourselves. One person cannot speak for us. We have already convened our meeting yesterday (Monday). We Obas have already concluded everything yesterday (Monday). What are we waiting for? We can only be waiting for our new Oba. We are the ones to decide. Our Governor, Makinde, will give us the final decision. He will be the one to decide. He can do and undo.”

 

 

The Ekerin Olubadan, however, insinuated that the Olubadan-designate might not be well.

 

 

“The governor will do everything; but if anybody is not well, even if you are not well, we will make sure that anybody that becomes Oba is well. A tree cannot make a forest. We didn’t become kings without the knowledge of the governor. There is the law on lineage for us in Ibadan. We have never seen our incoming Olubadan. So, right from Baba, the governor can pick from anywhere; the governor can pick from Ekerin Balogun, Ekerin Olubadan.

 

 

“If someone is not well or capable of staying on that throne, do you just want us to put that person there like a vegetable? Is it possible? What we want is whoever wants to become our Oba must be able to walk and speak, so that you will be able to communicate with him.

 

 

“So, there is a law in our lineage that says if number one is not fit; the number two is not; the number three is not, the governor has the power to pick right from Ekerin. So, how should it be one, two, three and four? God forbid! So, he will see and check very well that that person can perform.”

 

 

When asked if he was aware of any other meeting on Tuesday at the same Olubadan Palace, Oja’ba, the Ekerin Olubadan said, “I am not aware of any scheduled meeting. We the Obas met yesterday (Monday) and it was concluded that we would continue to wait till we see the new Oba.”

International News

Transfer: Real Madrid , Cucurella Reach Verbal Agreement 

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Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.

 

Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.

“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.

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Hakimi, Vinicius Barred From Speaking Spanish At World Cup

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FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

 

The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.

Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.

Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.

The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.

The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.

Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.

The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.

According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.

For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.

The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.

The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.

The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.

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It’s Illegal’…Falana’s Bombshell Indicts Govs, FG.

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Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.

 

According to Falana, the practice is illegal.

He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.

Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.

Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”

Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”

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