Former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, is poised to ascend the revered throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, following the recent passing of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who reigned for less than a year.
Oba Olakulehin was officially installed as Olubadan on July 12, 2024, in a grand ceremony held at the historic Mapo Hall, where Governor Seyi Makinde presented him with the staff of office. The coronation was attended by President Bola Tinubu, state governors, ministers, traditional rulers, and other dignitaries. His demise has plunged Ibadan into mourning yet again, less than a year after his ascension.
Olakulehin was the second monarch to reside in a dedicated Olubadan palace, a modern edifice inaugurated by Governor Makinde on July 10, 2024, at Oke-Aremo. Prior to this, Olubadans traditionally ruled from their personal residences.
Royal Succession: A Rotational System
The Olubadan chieftaincy system is uniquely structured and rotates between two major lines: the Balogun (military) and the Otun (civil). Each line has a defined progression of titles, with individuals advancing step-by-step over time.
The late Oba Olakulehin rose through the Balogun line, spending 38 years in the hierarchy before becoming king. With his passing, the rotation shifts to the Otun line, from which Chief Rasheed Ladoja emerges as the highest-ranking chief, the Otun Olubadan.
Who Is Rasheed Ladoja?
Below are key facts about the man set to become the next Olubadan:
1. Birth: Born on September 24, 1944, in the Gambari area of Ibadan.
2. Education: Attended Ibadan Boys’ High School (1958–1963) and Olivet Baptist High School Oyo (1964–1965). He later studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Liège, Belgium (1966–1972).
3. Political Beginnings: Elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1993 under the short-lived Third Republic, as a member of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).
4. Banking Role: Became a director at Standard Trust Bank in 2000.
5. Governor of Oyo State: Elected under the PDP and served from May 2003 to January 2006.
6. Political Rift: His tenure was marred by a fierce political feud with PDP strongman Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu over political appointments.
7. Impeachment and Reinstatement: Impeached by state lawmakers on January 12, 2006, but the Supreme Court nullified the action and reinstated him on December 12, 2006.
8. Failed Re-election Bid: Lost the PDP ticket for the 2007 election and later supported Action Congress candidates in local government elections.
9. EFCC Case: Arrested in August 2008 by the EFCC for allegedly mismanaging N1.9 billion in government funds; granted bail after brief detention.
10. Gubernatorial Bids: Ran unsuccessfully for governor under the Accord Party in 2011 and 2015, losing to Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
11. Retirement from Politics: Defected to ADC and later ZLP before stepping away from active politics in 2018 to focus on his traditional responsibilities.
12. Traditional Recognition: On August 12, 2024, the late Oba Olakulehin formally presented a beaded crown to Ladoja — a gesture previously rejected by Ladoja during Ajimobi’s administration due to political differences.
Looking Ahead
Chief Ladoja’s imminent coronation as Olubadan is historic. A former governor ascending one of the highest and most respected traditional thrones in Yorubaland underscores the depth of Ibadan’s cultural heritage and its unique monarchical structure.
As the city awaits the official date of his coronation, all eyes are now on the next chapter in Ibadan’s storied history.
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