Ibadan, Nigeria | July 8, 2025
The ancient city of Ibadan is preparing to welcome its 44th monarch as former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja ascends to the revered Olubadan stool following the passing of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin. The 80-year-old statesman and current Otun Olubadan, as the most senior chief in the civil line, now stands first in succession under Ibadan’s unique rotational chieftaincy system that alternates between military and civil lineages.
Ladoja’s impending coronation continues a centuries-old tradition where leadership rotates between the Balogun (military) and Otun (civil) lines. The late Oba Olakulehin, who belonged to the warrior line, waited 38 years from his initial appointment as Jagun Balogun before ascending the throne last year. Ladoja’s journey to the stool began in earnest when he received the ceremonial beaded crown from the late monarch in August 2024, symbolically ending his earlier rejection of the honor during the Ajimobi administration.
The incoming monarch brings a distinguished pedigree spanning academia, banking, politics and traditional leadership. A chemical engineering graduate from Belgium’s University of Liège, Ladoja transitioned from directing Standard Trust Bank to becoming Oyo’s governor in 2003, surviving a controversial impeachment in 2006 that was later overturned by the Supreme Court. His subsequent political career saw him contest gubernatorial elections under multiple party platforms before dedicating himself fully to traditional duties.
As Ibadan anticipates the coronation ceremonies, attention focuses on how Ladoja’s extensive administrative experience and deep institutional knowledge will shape his reign. The transition marks another chapter in Ibadan’s storied history, with the city set to benefit from its new ruler’s unique blend of modern governance expertise and traditional wisdom.
