Sumbo Owolabi, son of the Balogun of Ibadan and Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has said that his father is healthy and would be out in the public soon.
Oba Olakulehin was absent at a Monday meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council to deliberate on his nomination to Governor Seyi Makinde as next Olubadan following the death of Oba Lekan Balogun on March 14, 2023.
His absence at the meeting raised concerns about the state of his health.
Suggesting the Olubadan-designate might be unwell, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Hamidu Ajibade told PUNCH on Tuesday, “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.”
Olubadan Oba Lekan Balogun buried
However, Oba Olakulehin’s son Owolabi told the newspaper on Wednesday that the Olubadan-to-be was healthy.
Owolabi, a former commissioner in Oyo State, said that at the time of Oba Balogun’s death his father was on a medical trip and was told by doctors to rest.
“I want to debunk the rumour that he is incapacitated. The installation of the next Olubadan will soon be done. People should stop fake rumour. I also want to debunk another rumour that the crowned Obas have not seen him. They have now seen each other,” he said.
