Rashidi Ladoja receiving beaded crown
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Former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja has officially received the Ibadan beaded crown after seven years of resistance.
Ladoja was presented the crown on Monday by Bayo Lawal, acting governor of the state, during a ceremony held at the palace of Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan, is one of the 11 high chiefs in the succession line to Olakunlehin.
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Ladoja’s coronation comes about seven years after he refused the beaded crown which confers the “his royal majesty” title on him.
With his recent crowning, Ladoja has now adopted the title of Oba.
Speaking after the coronation, Ladoja stated that there is no issue with assuming the position of king in the Olubadan lineage.
He emphasised that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, remains the only paramount king in the ancient city, while all other Obas are considered subjects and advisers.
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Addressing concerns, Oba Ladoja mentioned that those who anticipated a crisis in the ancient city due to the reform of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration were mistaken.
He explained that all parties involved were able to resolve their differences amicably.
Ladoja also noted that he agreed to take the crown after all his reservations and uncertainties were addressed.
Oba Ladoja said: “We can do our things on our own in Ibadanland, those thinking that Ibadan will burn are liars, whenever there is an issue among us, you will see that things will change once we enter the room and come out, that’s all because we know what is right
“Misunderstanding was the cause of what happened before because what we were asking before was that as a king, where is our domain?
“They have answered us that we were king in the Olubadan line because what the declaration tells us was that Otun can become king, Osi, Asipa, and Ekeerin including all of us in the Olubadan line can become king.
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“The question I have been asking of where is our domain has been answered.
“Only those that God destinated can become the Olubadan, we have seen some who rose to the post of the Otun and Balogun but eventually didn’t become the Olubadan
“Now that we have become the king, we have become the adviser and servant to Oba Olakulehin because he can send us to wherever he wants as our king.
“We only have one king in Ibadanland, Oba Olakulehin is our king.”
He thanked the Ibadan people and residents of Ibadan, praying that Ibadan will continue to witness tremendous achievements.
Background
In 2017, the late Abiola Ajimobi, then governor of Oyo, conferred the title of oba on some high chiefs and baales, giving them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets and be addressed as “his royal majesty”.
Ladoja challenged the move, arguing that it violated the 1957 Ibadan chieftaincy declaration.
The Otun Olubadan argued that there cannot be more than one oba at a time, and that an individual cannot become oba twice.
The case went to court and after much back and forth, it ruled that matters returned to status quo.
But in June 2023, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, signed the chieftaincy amendment bill into law following its passage by the state house of assembly.
He subsequently approved the promotion of 11 Ibadan high chiefs to be crowned obas.
Under the amended law, the 11 high chiefs, who form the Olubadan-in-council, were recognised as the traditional heads of the 11 LGAs in Ibadanland.
All the high chiefs accepted the development except Ladoja who was absent at the coronation.
Again, he headed to court to challenge the elevation of his “high chief colleagues” to obas.
Among other prayers, Ladoja asked for a declaration that the newly crowned obas cannot again aspire for the throne of Olubadan, as they are no longer chiefs.
In October 2023, when the case came up for hearing, the presiding judge declined to hear the suit and ordered the return of the case file to the chief justice for reassignment.
There has been no public record of any development in the case.
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