By Eric Elezuo

“In exercise of the power conferred on me as the governor, I hereby present the staff of office to Oba, Senator, Governor, Engineer, my Baba, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa the first. This is in confirmation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. I am so present.”

The feeling was exhilarating, the atmosphere turbocharged and turn up of people massive as the whole of Ibadanland stood still to welcome their new king, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Earlier before the big day, which drew a retinue of highly placed Nigerians, especially of Yoruba extract, including President Bola Tinubu, the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, had given his approval for the nomination of Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The approval was reportedly a sequel to a meeting between the government delegation and Oba Ladoja as well as members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.

Confirming the approval, Oba Ladoja’s media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, had informed that the installation ceremony of the traditional ruler will hold September 26, at the Mapo Hall, Oja-oba, Ibadan.

“Oba Ladoja will be enthroned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, September 26, 2025,” he said.

Ladoja’s nomination by the Olubadan Advisory Council on August 4 followed the demise of the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin on July 7, whose reign lasted for little over a year

On the D-day, the who’s who in the Southwest region among them traditional rulers, top government functionaries, political bigwigs and others, flung the Mapo Hall venue for the coronation as a cloak, giving sight to the ground a near-impossibility.

The Afobaje of Ibadanland, Chief Waheed Popoola of the Labosinde Compound, Oja’ba, in the Ibadan South East Local Government Area of Oyo State, had earlier placed the Akoko leaves on the head of Oba Ladoja, attracting loud ovation from the crowd that witnessed it.

The ceremony, which was in preparation for his move to the Ose-Meji Temple, was to prepare him for crowning as the 44th Olubadan.

As the morning was gradually giving way for the bright and hot afternoon sun, the Olubadan made his grand entrance into the venue, and the welcome was as rousing as expected, and even beyond expectations.

The systematic entrance of notable dignitaries, cultural troupes and super dressed individuals lent added impetus to the shine that has engulfed the environment and atmosphere. Their celebratory chants that echoed from more corners than one released the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people, and made a convincing statement for the moment.

In his acceptance speech after receiving the staff of office, Oba Ladoja thanked Governor Makinde, the Olubadan in Council, President Tinubu, royal fathers and dignitaries that graced the event, as well as made a request for the creation for Ibadan State, giving a timeline of 2027 latest.

Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “I thank the President for creating time to attend today’s event. I also thank him for agreeing to give us Ibadan state.

“My people sent me a message to Mr President. Mr President, they said the creation of Ibadan State is their priority. Give us Ibadan State before 2027,” he said.

The governor said the orderly transfer of the Olubadan stool remained an enviable model of traditional leadership in Nigeria.

Makinde maintained that the orderly transfer of the Olubadan stool remained an enviable model of traditional leadership in Nigeria.

“The succession process to the throne of Olubadan is now well established and free from contestation, and this is a source of pride for us all. I rejoice with the Olubadan, the Ibadan Council of Chiefs, and the entire people of Ibadanland.

“It is my prayer that the reign of Oba Adewolu Ladoja will usher in lasting peace, unity, and greater progress for Ibadanland and for Oyo State as a whole,” Governor Makinde added.

In his speech, President Tinubu congratulated Oba Ladoja, noting the historical significance of his journey from political leadership as a former governor to the revered Olubadan stool, urging him to champion peace and development, while assuring of Federal Government’s support.

Tinubu also used the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to exercise more patience as regards the prevailing hardship, noting that the economy is rebounding.

“Your suffering has been as painful to us as a painful surgery. But the economy has now returned to a moment of growth and prosperity,” Tinubu said.

The president recalled times of struggle with Ladoja, and added, “It is a privilege for me, as President, to witness your coronation and all the things you’ve started, the expectations, and the history we share together as you ascend the throne of your forebears.”

Among the highpoint of the occasion were cultural displays by various troupes, prayers by Christian and Islamic clerics, and tributes from eminent traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto.

Oba Ladoja’s emergence as the Olubadan has been described by many as a product of patience, and that whatever is due anyone will not elude him. It also ushers Ibadan into a new chapter of development.

Among top guests that graced the event all day were the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, governors from neighbouring states, traditional rulers like the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, the Olugbo of Ugbo Land Oba Fredrick Akiruntan as well as Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi. Meanwhile, Folashade Adegoke, wife of the Ooni of Ife, represented the Ife king, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at the coronation ceremony, who was unavoidably absent as a result of the Olojo Festival in Ife.

The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal; former National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (retd); and the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, were on ground to witness the event.

Also present at the coronation were former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi; and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke.

Others were the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Senator Yunus Akintunde (Oyo Central), Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, who represents Ogbomoso North in the House of Representatives, alongside other federal and state lawmakers; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr Zach Adedeji; Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Kayode Adebowale and Nigerian gospel artiste, Evang (Dr) Funmi Aragbaye.

Alhaji Taye Adebisi, popularly known as Taye Currency, rounded off the colourful as he entertained guests at the event.

Oba Ladoja was born on September 25, 1944 in Gambari village near Ibadan.

He attended Ibadan Boys High School between 1958 and 1963, and Olivet Baptist High School (1964–1965) before going over to the University of Liège, Belgium in 1966, where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering.

He secured a job at graduation with Total Nigeria, an oil company, and spent 13 years with the outfit, attaining various positions before divesting into the private sector in 1985.

His business interests include shipping, manufacturing, banking, agriculture and transportation. By 2000, Ladoja had become a director of Standard Trust Bank Limited.

Before ascending the throne, and aprt from secular business practice, Ladoja was a politician who served as the governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2006; and from 2006 to 2007. He was earlier in 1992 elected as Senator representing Oyo South before the republic was truncated in 1993 as a result of the June 12 umpasse.

In August 2025, he was officially approved as the 44th Olubadan-designate by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

Photos: Koya Adegbite