By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The installation of Senator Rashidi Ladoja as the new Olubadan of Ibadanland drew eminent Yoruba monarchs and traditional rulers from across the Southwest to the ancient city on Friday.
Among those present were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade; the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Adeoye; the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan; and the Ooni of Ife, represented by Olori Ashley.
The Afobaje of Ibadanland, Chief Waheed Popoola, performed the traditional rite of placing Akoko leaves on the monarch’s head at the Labosinde Compound in Oja’ba. The ceremony, deeply rooted in Ibadan culture, symbolised acceptance of the crown before the new king embarked on a colourful grand procession to Mapo Hill.
Ibadan’s monarchy remains unique in Yorubaland and across Africa for its transparent and predictable succession system. Unlike other royal stools where fierce contests often break out among princes, the Olubadan throne follows a strict hierarchical structure.
Succession alternates between two lines: the Otun (civil) and the Balogun (military). Each high chief patiently ascends through the ranks over the years, climbing the ladder step by step until it becomes their turn to wear the beaded crown.
This orderly arrangement eliminates disputes and ensures smooth transitions. It has won admiration not only within Nigeria but also in wider Africa, where Ibadan’s system is often cited as a rare model of peaceful succession.
Oba Ladoja succeeds the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who passed away in July 2025 after spending less than a year on the throne. His departure created a vacuum quickly filled within three months by the ascension of Ladoja, reflecting the resilience of the system.
The presence of top Yoruba monarchs, alongside notable political figures, added colour and weight to the occasion. It also demonstrated the respect and significance accorded to the Olubadan stool as one of the most influential thrones in Yorubaland.
In his first royal proclamation, Oba Ladoja used the moment to revive the decades-long agitation for the creation of Ibadan State. He appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider carving out a new state from Oyo.
The monarch stressed that Ibadan, with its size, population, and historical importance as one of West Africa’s largest cities, deserves recognition in Nigeria’s federal structure. The demand, he noted, reflects the aspirations of generations of indigenes who believe Ibadan’s political weight merits its own identity.
The call for Ibadan State has echoed for decades, cutting across political administrations. Yet with Ladoja now on the throne, many indigenes view the appeal as carrying renewed legitimacy and urgency.
The crowning of a former governor as Olubadan carries deeper symbolism beyond local politics. It reflects Africa’s evolving relationship between tradition and modernity, where governance, heritage, and identity are woven together.
In a continent where colonial borders once overshadowed indigenous systems, such coronations serve as a reminder of cultural resilience. They also highlight how traditional authority continues to adapt, even as African societies modernise.
For Ibadan, Oba Ladoja represents both continuity and transformation — a leader who has walked the corridors of power in Abuja and now sits upon one of the most revered thrones in Yorubaland.
For Nigeria and Africa at large, his reign will test how political experience and cultural authority can be harmonised to serve people in a rapidly changing world.