Kunle Aderibigbe, Lagos
The founder of the First City Monument Bank, Otunba Subomi Balogun has denied report in some quarters that he was nursing his son, Mr Ladi Balogun, the Managing Director of FCMB to become the next Awujale of Ijebuland, after the reign of the incumbent paramount ruler, Oba Sikiru Kayde Adetona.
The Olori Omooba of Ijebuland who equally doubles as the Olori Ebi of the Funsegbuwa ruling house was reported to be positioning his son, Ladi as the next Awujale.
But in a statement issued on Monday, August 26, 2019 by one of his media aides, and made available to Gateway Times, Otunba Balogun expressed shock at the extent at which some faceless people could go to create enmity among the people of Ijebuland.
It could be recalled that the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, recently warned the Kingmakers at the 2019 Ojude- Oba Festival not to politicise the selection of his successor by allowing the moneybags to scatter the selection process leading to emergence of new Awujale when the present one quits the stage.
In his own words, ‘I am most disappointed with the writers and those that are fueling the rumour that I am plotting 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 Awujale Oba Adetona and I are friend, both of us are still alive, if Awujale could make a pronouncement, does that mean that they should drag my name to sell their stories?
I happen to be the Olori Omoba, and providence has placed me in a situation in which everybody will expect me to be close to the Awujale and be supportive of whatever he is doing by way of our culture and tradition.
Secondly, people know me as a very senior member of royalty in Ijebuland, apart from being the Olori Omoba, I am the Olori Ebi of one of the largest ruling houses in Ijebuland, “ he concluded.
