Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State in the Southwestern part of Nigeria is an ancient Yorùbá city founded by warriors. But unlike other Yorùbá towns and villages, Ibadan has an age-long unique obaship system.

Maybe not totally strange, but Ibadan has further validated the state as a ‘pace setter’ in recent times, in terms of little twist to ascension to the first-class stool of Olubadan.

In this article, we’ll explore 6 things you should know about the Obaship system in Ibadan.

1.Olubadan Ascension Ladders

There are two lines of ascension to the throne of Olubadan. These are the Olubadan (Civil) Line and Balogun (Military) Line. After clinching the title of Mogaji from one’s compound. Depending on the line, such a person has 22 stages to climb in the Civil Line while that of the Military Line is 23 towards the throne of Olubadan.  Both lines start from Jagun. 

Chieftaincy Stages in the Civil Line (Olubadan or Egbe Agba)

22. Otun Olubadan
23. Osi Olubadan
24. Asipa Olubadan
25. Ekerin olubadan
26. Ekaarun Olubadan
27. Abese
28. Maye
29. Ẹkẹfa
30. Agba- Akin
31. Aare – Alasa
32. Ikọlaba
33. Asaju
34. Ayingun
35. Aare – Agọ
36. Laguna
37. Oota
38. Aare – Egbe – Omo
39. Gbonnka
40. Aare – Onibon
41. Bada
42. Ajia
43. Jagun

Chieftaincy Stages in the Military Line (Egbe Balogun)

23. Balogun
24. Otun Balogun 
25. Osi Balogun 
26. Asipa Balogun 
27. Ekerin Balogun 
28. Ekarun Balogun 
29. Abese
30. Maye
31. Ẹkẹfa
32. Agba- Akin
33. Aare – Alasa
34. Ikọlaba
35. Asaju
36. Ayingun
37. Aare – Agọ
38. Laguna
39. Oota
40. Aare – Egbe – Omo
41. Gbonnka
42. Aare – Onibon
43. Bada
44. Ajia
45. Jagun

2. Civil and Military Lines Rotation 

The two lines of the chieftaincy structure produce Olubadan on a rotational basis. Though there is also one Seriki line, it is meant to be a youth group fused into the Balogun line just as Iyaloja is, to the Civil line. That’s just by the way. 

Back to the focus here. The stool of Olubadan is alternated between the Olubadan line and Balogun line. For instance, Oba Dr. Moshood Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II that recently joined his ancestors was from the Olubadan (Civil) line. He succeeded Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogugunso 1 from the military line, who joined his ancestors on 2nd of January, 2022. 

Therefore, the next Olubadan is expected to come from the Military line. 

3. No Specific Royal House(s)

In most of the Yorùbá Obaship structure, there’s usually two or three ruling houses (or even more) who constitute the royal families. For those places, the ascension to the throne is rotated between only the royal families. 

But the Obaship system in Ibadan is different. Anyone can become Olubadan, inasmuch as you’re a true son of Ibadan — and must climb either of the two ladders to the top. 

4. Promotion of Lesser Oba

Though this practice is new to the system. It started when the former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, in an attempt to modernise the system, promoted some High Chiefs and Baales to Oba. 

After a fierce battle for the soul of the age-long Ibadan Obaship system, Ajimobi’s successor, Governor Seyi Makinde, withdrew their crowns as part of the condition to settle out of court. 

However, the Governor subsequently sought approval of the state House of Assembly to allow traditional heads (high chiefs) to wear beaded crowns by amending section 28 of the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law 2023. 

Therefore, the governor re-elevated the 10 high chiefs in Olubadan-in-Council to the Obaship status of in July, 2023. But the ascension line of Obaship system remains unchanged.

With this, Ibadan is arguably the first Yorùbá town/city where a lesser Oba is being promoted to become another or better put: a superior Oba. 

5. Aged Monarch 

For most places in Yorùbá land, the attention has shifted to youths in selection of king for their respective town. However, one of the amazing characteristics of the Ibadan Obaship system is how it produces an aged monarch. 

This is obviously due to the number of stages one has to pass through before being ranked next in line, and eventually become Olubadan. The promotion in either of the two lines occurs when a successor is picked from the line. 

For instance, with an 84-year-old Oba Owólabí Olakulehin succeeding late Ọba Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, there will be promotion in the Balogun (military) line of the Obaship system. 

However, the Civil line, headed by the current Otun Olubadan and former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, remains unchanged until the next in line is picked as successor of Oba Owólabí Olakulehin, as new Olubadan.

Note: Death can also influence promotion on the ladder.

6. Longest-serving Olubadan 

Due to the Ibadan Obaship system, most of the past Olubadans ascended the throne at old age. Let’s take a look at the most recent.

Oba Saliu  Adetunji, Aje Ogugunso 1, became the 41st Olubadan on April 4, 2016 at the age of 87 years and passed away in 2022 at the age of 93 years.

His successor, Ọba Moshood Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, was crowned 42nd Olubadan on March 11, 2022 at the age of 79 years and died on Thursday, 14th March 2024 at the age of 81 years. 

However, while many of these Obas had short-lived reigns as Olubadan, Oba Okunola Abaasi Alesinloye Isale Ijebu reigned for 16 years. He ruled between 1930 and 1946.