The Olori Omoba of Ijebuland and founder of First City Monument Bank, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, has denied reports trending on social media he is lining up his son, Ladi, as the next Awujale of Ijebuland.
Balogun, who is also the head of Fusengbuwa family, one of the ruling houses in Ijebuland, said his son was too busy running his business, as he is the Group Chief Executive Officer of the FCMB.
The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, had warned kingmakers at the 2019 Ojude-Oba Festival not to politicise the selection of his successor or allow moneybags to hijack the process.
However, Oba Adetona, whose comment has reportedly sparked a debate over who becomes his successor, in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Oluwaseun Oduneye, said he was not happy with the reports.
According to him, it is ungodly and forbidden in Yorubaland to be scheming to succeed a reigning king.
He said, “I am most disappointed with the writers and those that are fuelling the rumour that I am plotting (to make) 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 the Awujale, Oba Adetona, and I are friends; both of us are still alive. If the Awujale could make a pronouncement, does that mean that they should use my name to sell their stories?
