Rashidi Ladoja’s 32-Year Journey to the Olubadan Throne: A Saga of Resilience and Destiny

Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja . On September 26, 2025, the ancient city of Ibadan gathered in grandeur at Mapo Hall to witness a coronation steeped in history and destiny. Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, former governor of Oyo State and one of Nigeria’s most prominent statesmen, was officially crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. For the 81-year-old monarch, this day was not merely a ceremonial event but the culmination of a 32-year odyssey through one of Africa’s most unique and disciplined traditional successions.

Born on September 25, 1944, in Gambari village near Ibadan, Ladoja’s journey reflects a remarkable blend of modern ambition, political resilience, and unyielding commitment to tradition. From Mogaji of his family compound in 1991 to Otun Olubadan in 2024, his slow but steady rise through Ibadan’s meticulously structured hierarchy reveals a man guided by patience and destiny.

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His Journey: From Humble Roots to the Pinnacle of Tradition

Rashidi Ladoja’s background was modest yet inspiring. His father was a cocoa trader, while his mother was known for philanthropy in Ibadan communities. Driven by education, he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Liège in Belgium before venturing into business, where he rose to prominence in the corporate sector, including as a director of Standard Trust Bank. But beyond business and politics, Ladoja’s heart was tied to the traditional fabric of his city.

For the Otun line from where Ladoja emerged, the movement is from Jagun Olubadan – Ajia – Bada – Aare Onibon – Gbonnka – Aare Egbe Omo-Oota – Lagunna – Aare Ago – Ayingun – Asaju – Ikolaba – Aare Alasa – Agba Akin – Ekefa – Maye – Abese – Ekarun Olubadan – Ekerin Olubadan – Ashipa Olubadan – Osi Olubadan – Otun Olubadan and eventually Olubadan.

His formal entry into Ibadan’s succession ladder began in 1991, when he was installed as the Mogaji of the Arusa compound in Isale-Osi. This marked his initiation into the centuries-old chieftaincy system, which uniquely alternates between two lines—the Egbe Agba (civil line) and the Balogun (military line). Advancement is strictly sequential, with each titleholder moving up only when vacancies occur, often requiring decades of patience.

By October 1, 1993, Ladoja had become Jagun Balogun, the starting point of his long climb. His installation was attended by political heavyweights such as MKO Abiola, Lamidi Adedibu, and Adebayo Alao-Akala, symbolizing the fusion of politics and tradition. From that moment, his ascent through the ranks was steady—Jagun, Asipa, Ekerin, and others—until he reached the prestigious position of Otun Olubadan in March 2024, making him the next in line to the throne.

Alongside his traditional progress, Ladoja’s political career flourished. Elected governor of Oyo State in 2003 under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he emphasized education and infrastructure development. However, his tenure was disrupted in 2006 by impeachment, a move widely seen as engineered by political godfathers. Though temporarily displaced, the Supreme Court reinstated him within months, restoring his governorship and cementing his image as a principled leader.

This dual journey—political battles on one hand and gradual ascension on the other—defines Ladoja’s life. While his peers faded away, he continued to climb the Olubadan ladder, embodying a philosophy he once expressed: “Leadership, to me, has always been about service, not status.”

Obstacles Cleared: Trials of Politics, Tradition, and Time

If Ibadan’s succession system demands patience, Ladoja’s climb demanded more—resilience, endurance, and survival. The chieftaincy structure is predictable, yet unpredictable in timing. One must not only wait for vacancies but also outlive contemporaries. Many of those who began the journey with him—politicians like Abiola and Adedibu—did not live to see this day. Ladoja often acknowledged this reality with humility: “The system is structured, but the timing is in God’s hands.”

The political storm of 2006 tested him most severely. Refusing to yield to undue political control, he clashed with strongman Lamidi Adedibu, leading to his impeachment. For seven months, he was away from office before being reinstated. This struggle refined his resilience and deepened his public respect as a leader who valued integrity above compromise.

Another defining challenge came in 2017, when the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi controversially elevated several chiefs to “Oba” status, threatening the singularity of the Olubadan throne. While others accepted, Ladoja rejected the new crown, insisting that the sanctity of Ibadan’s traditional system must remain intact. His words then captured his commitment: “It is not about me. It is about protecting an institution older than any of us.”

Beyond politics and tradition, Ladoja’s journey was also marked by personal struggles—health scares, the emotional toll of aging, and the sudden death of his predecessor, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, in June 2025 after just three months on the throne. These events emphasized the fragility of the path, but Ladoja never wavered. In interviews, he remained hopeful, stating: “By the grace of God, I will become Olubadan… No matter the obstacles placed in the way.”

Dream Come True: A Legacy of Service and Vindication

Today, as Ladoja wears the beaded crown at Mapo Hall, his ascension is more than a personal victory—it is a cultural and historical milestone. He is the first Olubadan to have also served as governor of Oyo State, blending executive experience with traditional authority. His coronation was unanimously endorsed by the Olubadan-in-Council on July 7, 2025, and formally approved by Governor Seyi Makinde on August 21, 2025.

For Ibadan, his reign signals a new era. Ladoja has already articulated his vision: promoting peace, cultural preservation, and socio-economic progress. He has urged Mogajis to curb drug abuse among youths and tasked Baales to protect communal lands from misuse. His approach blends the modern pragmatism of a seasoned politician with the ancestral wisdom of a traditional custodian.

The symbolism of his coronation is profound. Born in 1944, he is now the 44th Olubadan, a poetic alignment he himself highlighted. His life demonstrates that destiny, no matter how delayed, cannot be denied. In many ways, his story is one of vindication: a man who resisted political manipulation, preserved the purity of tradition, and remained steadfast until the throne was his.

As dignitaries, traditional rulers, and citizens celebrate this coronation, the words of the Ooni of Ife resonate: “Ladoja is a father of all, destined to unite Yoruba institutions.” His reign is expected to reinforce Ibadan’s role as a cultural powerhouse within Yorubaland and Nigeria at large.

Ultimately, Rashidi Ladoja’s 32-year journey to the Olubadan throne is a saga of resilience and divine timing. From cocoa farms to political corridors, from Mogaji to monarch, his life is a testament to patience, perseverance, and unwavering faith. The dream, once deferred, has now become reality.

In history, Oba Ladoja will be remembered as one of the most popular Olubadans, judging by the overwhelming joy and acceptance that greeted his emergence. Across family compounds, streets, and major roads in Ibadan, signposts, flyers, billboards, and banners proclaim congratulations to the 44th Olubadan on his ascension. From Mokola to Mapo, from Bodija to Oke-Ado, the city wears a festive look, as though every household feels personally invested in the coronation. The atmosphere reflects the mood of a people celebrating a king deeply loved and widely admired.

Also, the array of political and traditional leaders who have paid courtesy visits to him since his emergence is a strong testimony to the affection and respect he commands. These visits, coming not only from across Ibadan but also from different parts of Oyo State and beyond, highlight the broad appeal of Oba Ladoja as well as the reverence attached to the Olubadan stool.