Ladoja to ascend throne as 44th Olubadan on Sept 26

Former governor and Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will on Friday, September 26, 2025, ascend the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, it was learnt yesterday.

His path to the throne was sealed by Governor Seyi Makinde’s formal approval of Ladoja’s nomination as Olubadan-designate.

A state government delegation on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to OlubadanLadoja and members of the Olubadan-in-Council at his Bodija residence to fine-tune arrangements ahead of the installation.

“Oba Ladoja will be enthroned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, September 26, 2025,” Chief Adeola Oloko, media aide to the Olubadan-designate, confirmed on Wednesday.

It was gathered that the politician-turned-monarch had on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with the kingmakers at his private residence on Ondo Street, Old Bodija, Ibadan North Local Government.

The meeting, the first since his return following the demise of the immediate past monarch, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, lasted for about two hours.

His coronation will be held at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan on September 26, where indigenes, dignitaries, and well-wishers are expected to witness Oba Ladoja’s crowning as the new Olubadan.

Ladoja described his journey to the throne as “bumpy, filled with trials, and only made possible by the grace of God.”

He spoke while addressing a large crowd of well-wishers at his Bodija residence in Ibadan on Monday, barely six weeks after the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, joined his ancestors.

“I never imagined destiny would call me to the throne at this time. It came as a rude shock. I had envisaged that our king would still reign for another five to ten years,” he said.