Am After Olubadan Crown Nothing Else, Says Ladoja

The former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja has reacted to his elevation with other chiefs to crowned the traditional ruler of Ibadan by crown by the state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde.

Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, said he is not interested in another crown apart from the Olubadan crown.

Governor Makinde of Oyo State had recently authorised the promotion of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja alongside ten different Ibadan High Chiefs to beaded crown Obas through the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill he signed into legislation to grant an autonomy to the current beaded crowns to chiefs within the state.

The High Chiefs are Balogun of Ibadanland, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Olubunmi Isioye; Ekarun Olubadan; Bayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Abiodun Azeez.

With this, a source noted that the state governor had authorised the promotion, and the excessive chiefs can be formally put in as conventional rulers on Friday, July 7, 2023.

However, Ladoja reacting to the incident at his personal house in Bodija area of Ibadan while speaking to journalists on Wednesday, said his solely target is the Olubadan stool and nothing else.

According to him, “When I set out to join the race to become the Olubadan of Ibadan, I was focusing on how to become the Olubadan and the only crown I want to wear is that of Olubadan of Ibadan.”

He added: “I’m not interested in any other crown apart from that of Olubadan of Ibadanland”, maintaining that it’s in opposition to custom, tradition and unfair to raise excessive chiefs to obas.

“Nothing had changed, you don’t mend what is not broken, it is not fair to elevate chiefs to Obas, my focus is to become Olubadan, no lesser Oba.

“I don’t think it is fair to have High Chiefs as Obas. Who are you competing with? It is not our tradition. Ladoja is not interested in wearing an elevated crown”, he declared.