By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has officially assumed the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The coronation took place on Friday at the Ose Meji Temple in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area, where Ladoja received the royal crown.
Earlier in the day, he had been presented with the symbolic Akoko leaf at the Labosinde Compound, Oja’ba, in line with tradition.
The new Olubadan will be formally handed the staff of office by Governor Seyi Makinde at Mapo Hall, to complete the final stage of his ascension. Ladoja, a prominent political figure and former senator, emerged as Olubadan-designate following the death of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan, who passed away on July 7, 2025.
The installation ceremony was marked by colour, culture, and pageantry, as hundreds of residents and dignitaries turned out in traditional attire to witness the historic moment. Among those in attendance were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Ọlaoye; former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and the Chief Imam of Ibadan.
To ensure security and order, the event was heavily guarded by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), personnel of the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies. Their presence ensured the ceremony proceeded smoothly without incident.
The Olubadan stool is one of the most revered traditional institutions in Nigeria, renowned for its unique and transparent succession system, where every qualified chief in the hierarchy has the opportunity to ascend the throne. Ladoja’s coronation not only reaffirms this long-standing tradition but also ushers in a new chapter for Ibadanland under a monarch who has played significant roles in politics and governance.
