Meet Ex-Oyo Governor Rasheed Ladoja, Poised to Become the 44th Olubadan

Nearly a year ago, on July 12, 2024, the ancient city of Ibadan celebrated the coronation of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan in a grand ceremony at the historic Mapo Hall.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, presented the staff of office to Oba Olakulehin, with dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond, including President Bola Tinubu, governors, ministers, traditional rulers, and business leaders, in attendance.

Sadly, less than a year into his reign, Ibadan is once again mourning the loss of its monarch, who passed away on Monday.

Oba Olakulehin became the second Olubadan to rule from a befitting palace, following the late Olubadan Yesufu Oloyede Asanike, who lived at the old Oja’ba palace. The ultramodern Olubadan Palace at Oke-Aremo, inaugurated by Governor Makinde, is now the official residence of future Olubadans, starting with Oba Olakulehin.

Traditionally, the personal residence of an Olubadan served as the palace until this new development.

The Olubadan Succession System

Ibadan’s unique chieftaincy system rotates between two principal lines:

• Balogun (Warrior) Line
• Otun (Civil) Line

The Balogun line includes six ranks, with Balogun at the top. Similarly, the Otun line culminates with the Otun Olubadan as the highest-ranking member.

Oba Olakulehin emerged from the Balogun line, having waited 38 years after becoming Jagun Balogun to ascend the throne.

With his passing, the succession now shifts to the Otun line, where former Oyo State Governor, Rasheed Ladoja, holds the top position.

What to Know About the Next Olubadan – Rasheed Ladoja

1. Early Life: 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 (1964–1965).
   • Studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Liège, Belgium (1966–1972).
3. Political Career:
   • Elected Senator in 1993 under the United Nigeria Congress Party during Nigeria’s short-lived Third Republic.
   • Became a director at Standard Trust Bank in 2000.
   • Elected Governor of Oyo State in 2003 under the PDP platform, supported by political heavyweight, the late Lamidi Adedibu.
4. Political Challenges:
   • Clashed with Adedibu over appointments, leading to political instability.
   • Impeached by the State Assembly in January 2006; replaced by his deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala.
   • His impeachment was later declared illegal by the courts, and he returned to office in December 2006.
5. Later Years:
   • Failed to secure PDP’s nomination for a second term; backed Action Congress candidates in local elections.
   • Arrested by the EFCC in 2008 over alleged N1.9 billion mismanagement of government share sales.
   • Remanded briefly but granted bail.
   • Contested governorship elections in 2011 and 2015 under Accord Party but lost to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
   • Left active politics after joining ADC and later ZLP in 2018 to focus on his traditional chieftaincy duties.
6. The Beaded Crown:
   • On August 12, 2024, the late Olakulehin formally presented the ceremonial beaded crown to Ladoja — a crown Ladoja had once rejected during Ajimobi’s administration.

With the royal succession now falling on his shoulders, Rasheed Ladoja is set to make history as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.