Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa!) mounted the throne of Ibadanland as he was installed and crowned the 44th Olubadan on 26 September 2025, a mere twenty-four hours after his eighty- first birthday.

A gigantic fish in a large pond. That is our new Olubadan. He is the traditional authority over eleven local governments, a third of the 33 local governments making up Oyo State. To describe Ibadanland is to terrorize the psyche of most big cities anywhere in the world.

Ibadan in history was a fear that was feared.

Ibadan warred in Ijaye 1860- 1865 to assert Oyo authority.  Ibadan battled to the end against the combined Ekiti Parapo military machine in Kiriji War 1877–1893  

In the sweetest of them all, Ibadan, Ilu Oluyole, in sheer daredevilry, annihilated invading Fulani Jihadists seeking to spread their rule over Yorubaland.

Emerging from decisive military supremacy of the 19th century, Ibadan, Ilu Ogunmola, entered the 20th century poised to play a major role in the new politics- regional and national. And she did.  Ibadan became the seat of Western regional governance. In 1950, Ibadan hosted the first constitutional conference to be held in Nigeria.

Mapo Hall, the venue of Oba Ladoja’s coronation, is hallowed grounds. Built between 1925 and 1929, at the cost of 24,000 pounds, Mapo has witnessed more than a sizeable share of national history.

Last Sunday, Oba Ladoja’s thanksgiving took place at the Church of Ascension. There, Most Reverend Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin, Archbishop of Ibadan, remarked that “Oba Ladoja’s longevity is a crown of grace, and his enthronement is a divine mandate which entrusted him to the peace, unity, and progress of the Ibadan people,”

Oba Ladoja, who is the husband of three wives, is not a Catholic, not even a Christian. The choice of a Catholic Church for the conclusion of festivities is not far-fetched. The Church has played significant roles in the development of Ibadanland. The Catholic Church stands side by side with the government in bringing sustained growth to Ibadan. Her educational institutions, her health services, her social services complement government efforts in those fields.

The Catholic Church of Ibadan is also connected to royalty in significant ways. Oba Eddy Oyewole Foko who nominated Olubadan Ladoja formally to the stool and who is second in line to the throne is a Catholic, a Papal knight. His ancestor, Baale Oyewole Aiyejenku (Oke Foko) reigned from 1925 to 1930.

As Governor of Oyo State, Olubadan Ladoja had in his cabinet Mr. Ayodele Adigun first as a Commissioner and then as Secretary to the State Government.

Oba Ladoja is the fifth Olubadan since Baba Abegunrin became Archbishop of Ibadan. At the time of Archbishop Abegunrin’s appointment and installation, Oba Samuel Odulana Olugade was the reigning Olubadan. Since then, three other Olubadan reigned: Oba Saliu Akanbi Adetunji, Oba Moshood Lekan Balogun and the recently departed Oba Owolabi Ige Olakulehin.

The phenomenal trajectory of Olubadan Ladoja is nothing short of the divine; successful at each role on the stage of life, faced challenges all along. But Olubadan Ladoja is an unstoppable train of accomplishments. If he were to be more boisterous a character, he would have been referred to as a bulldozer.

He entered the murky waters of Nigerian politics and succeeded without splashing mud. He was a Senator before the evil one disbanded the Senate. He went home quietly. At the nick of time, he reemerged as Governor. That was before the uncrowned king of Amala politics orchestrated his removal. The Irrepressible quiet warrior returned to his gubernatorial seat to complete his term.

He stood resolutely on the side of tradition, a stance that almost derailed his path to the throne. And today, all is well, that ends well.

Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja  Arusa, May your reign herald the return of peace and progress to Ibadanland, to Nigeria, and to the world.

 

Ayo Fasoro

Non-Sum Dignus