Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State is set to mount the exalted throne of Olubadan of Ibadan land following the passing on of the incumbent occupier, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin at the age of 90.
The monarch died in the early hours of Monday, during the ongoing 90th birthday and first anniversary coronation celebrations.
A source close to the Olubadan-In-Council confided that “we received the message that the paramount ruler passed away this morning. He has joined his forefathers. Though it has to be officially announced by the state government.”
Another palace source, who confirmed the news, said the Otun Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who is the next in line to become Olubadan, is currently out of the country and he is expected back.
“We are expecting a former Governor of the State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, who is currently out of the country, to come back home.
The man who is next in line for the Olubadan stool, Oba Rasheed Ladoja was governor of Oyo State between 2003 and 2007.
Born September 24, 1944 in Gambari area of Ibadan, he attended Ibadan Boys High School between 1958–1963 and Olivet Baptist High School between 1964 and 1965. He further studied at the University of Liège, Belgium between 1966 and 1972 where he earned a degree in chemical engineering.
Ladoja was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1993 during the short-lived Nigerian Third Republic on the platform of the Social Democratic Party and was a member of the United Nigeria Congress Party during the Abacha Political Transition.
He was elected governor of Oyo State in April 2003 on the PDP platform, and took office on 29 May 2003. In August 2004, Ladoja and Adedibu were locked in a fierce struggle over allocation of government appointees and this led to his struggle in both the party through which he emerged and governance in the state.
On 12 January 2006, Ladoja was impeached by Oyo State legislators and forced out of office. His deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, was sworn in as the new governor.
On 1 November 2006, the Appeal Court in the state capital, Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal, but advised waiting for confirmation of this decision by the Supreme Court. However, the apex court upheld the decision on 11 November 2006, and Ladoja officially resumed office on 12 December 2006.
15. On August 12, 2024, the late Olakulehin, formally presented the ceremonial beaded crown to High Ladoja, a crown he had formerly rejected during ex-Oyo governor, Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.
