Over the last few weeks a lot of dignitaries have been trooping to Ibadan to greet the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
On a daily basis he has been receiving close to 50 visitors a day from 9am in the morning when he steps out of his room to about 11pm when he goes to bed. They come as individuals, groups and delegation.
So overwhelmed as he been that he told City People a few days back that he has been pleasantly shocked at the huge turnout, which he says he appreciates.
Since his name was announced as Olubadan elect he has brought a lot of honour and prestige to the stool.
In a move widely described as unprecedented, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) is rallying influential indigenes of the ancient city to support the planned weeklong celebration of new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, who is to be crowned on Friday, September 26, as the 44th Olubadan.
The President-General of CCII, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, recently inaugurated a committee headed by two of the city’s billionaire businessmen, Engr. Dotun Sanusi and Chief Adegboye Adegoke, to co-chairman a committee for the celebration.
The Oyo State Government had earlier inaugurated Chief Adebayo Oyero-Committee to work out plans for the coronation of Oba Ladoja, in line with its tradition of funding the coronation of first class traditional rulers in the state.
The CCII however thought of giving the current Olubadan-designate a deserved better celebration more than the previous Olubadan monarchs, for his being a successful billionaire businessman, former Senator, former governor and elder statesman.
It therefore inaugurated the Committee with some frontline Ibadan sons donating N10 million each for the celebration. The Committee picked seven other days apart from the government single day of coronation day, to make the celebration a weeklong event.
Not only that, these influentials have facilitated live broadcast of the coronation with Arise TV, Channels TV, TVC, Solution FM and Ilaji FM, among other frontline national stations, to beam and air the event live.
According to Comrade Demola Babalola and Alhaji Kunle Junaid who are both co-Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee in charge of Media/Publicity Subcommittee, part of the weeklong programme is the Monday, September 22 inter-religious prayers at Olubadan Palace Oke-Aremo, Ibadan and a stage play on the progenitor of Kabiyesi Arusa at the Apex Hall, Yidi Agodi area.
On Tuesday, September 23, there will be Cultural Day holding at the Olubadan Stadium, as well as first Olubadan coronation lecture to be delivered by a renown Ibadan-born globally-acknowledged historian, Prof. Toyin Falola, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
On Thursday, there will be a special programme for Oba Ladoja will clock 81years on that day , with Islamic prayers at the Olubadan Palace at 10a.m., and mega praise and worship at the Civic Centre, Agodi, Ibadan starting from 2p.m.
Expectedly, Oba Ladoja’s coronation will take place on Friday at Mapo Hall from 9a.m. while the reception organised by the monarch and his family holds at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium from 3pm. On Sunday, September 28, there will be thanksgiving service at the Church of Ascension, Bodija, Ibadan, while a grand civic reception will follow at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan at 2pm.
On Friday October 3, there will be a Jumat service at the Ibadan Central Mosque, Oja’ba; and on Saturday, October 4, the traditional worshippers (Isese) will converge at Ose Meji Temple, Oja’ba.
Lets reveal the official profile of Kabiyeesi which has just been released by the palace. His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja was born on 25 September, 1944 in Gambari Village near Ogbomoso, Oyo State to Pa Yunusa Olayiwola and Madam Halimat Sadia Ladoja. His family has its ancestral homestead in Arusa compound, Isale Osi, Ibadan.
The young Ladoja received his elementary education at Progressive Day School, Aladorin, Ibadan between 1950 and 1956.Threafter,he attended Ibadan Boys High School, Oke Bola, Ibadan between 1958 and 1963.Rashidi Ladoja showed flashes of brilliance as a secondary school student.He made Grade 1 in his West African School Certificate Examinations.
He subsequently gained admission into Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo in 1964.He came first in the A Level admission examinations but could not resume as a student of the school immediately due to financial and logistics constraints. When he finally showed up at Olivet Heights a little later, his school Principal, Mr Lafihan said that although the space for the newly admitted A Level students was already full,the school would rather create additional space to accommodate Rashidi Ladoja, its most brilliant candidate in the admission exams rather than lose him.At Olivet Heights, he studied A Level Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Additional Mathematics.On sholarship, Ladoja gained admission into the University of Leige, Belgium to study Chemical Engineering in 1966 and graduated with a distinction in 1972.
On completion of his university education, Ladoja joined Total Nigeria, an oil company where he worked in different capacities for 13 years.
In 1985,he voluntarily left the company to venture into private business. Oba Ladoja’s business interests span shipping, manufacturing, banking, agriculture and transportation.For instance, he was a Director of the grand old Crystal Bank which later metamorphosed into Standard Trust Bank, STB which later teamed up with the United Bank for Africa, UBA .He was also a director of REAL shipping, REAL oil and KARLANDER Nigeria Limited.
Oba Ladoja’s journey into the exalted Olubadan throne started when he was appointed Mogaji of the all-inclusive Arusa family, Isale Osi, Ibadan in the present-day Ibadan South West Local Government. On 1st October 1993,he was appointed Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland by late Oba Yusufu Oloyede Asanike in an impressive ceremony witnessed by dignitaries from different walks of life, including the presumed winner of June 12,1993 presidential election, Bashorun M.K.O Abiola,now late.
Incidentally, his journey to politics started about the same time. In 1992, he was elected a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP during the Ibrahim Babangida Convoluted transition to civil rule programme. When the transition to civil rule programme was disrupted by the military following the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Oba Ladoja went into self-exile, along with others to press for the de-annulment of the election. This was a particularly tough time in the annals of Nigerian politics.
On his return from exile in 1995,Oba Ladoja joined the United Nigeria Congress Party, UNCP.It was on the platform of the defunct UNCP that he contested and won election into the Constitutional conference, Abuja during the shortlived Sani Abacha Political Transition programme .
Oba Ladoja was elected the Oyo State Governor under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in 2003. His Administration’s education reform, particularly the 30 pupils per class policy, massive teachers recruitment, establishment of more schools, prompt payment of salaries, massive promotion of workers, impressive learning outcomes of Oyo State schools in externally moderated examinations Total Eradication of guinea worm,TEGO, and zero tolerance for corruption amongst others won him a wide perspective of affection. However, his tenure was cut short in January 2006 when he was impeached as Oyo State Governor. His impeachment was,however, overturned in November 2006 by the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan. The Supreme Court upheld the decision. Thus,Oba Ladoja was reinstated as the Oyo State Governor on 12 December 2006 until his first term in office expired in 2007.
But his political journey did not stop there.
Following his inability to get a second term in office, he supported the candidacy of late Abiola Ajimobi of the ANPP for the 2007 gubernatorial election. In 2011 elections, Oba Ladoja joined the Accord Party fondly called the third force in the then Oyo State politics.A grassroots mass movement,the Accord Party won 7 State House of Assembly and 4 National Assembly seats, thereby sending sending shock wave to the Oyo State political circle.
In 2019, Oba Ladoja was the rallying point of opposition figures who wanted a paradigm shift from late Gov Abiola Ajimobi ‘s two-term tenure as he was at the head of a coalition that produced Gov Seyi Makinde in his first term in office.
Having retired from active politics, Oba Ladoja now enjoys spending time with his family and contributing to community causes. His dedication to both public and his cultural heritage continues to inspire many in Oyo State and beyond.
