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Ibadan agog as Ladoja becomes 44th Olubadan

All roads will lead to Ibadan on September 26 as the political class, traditional rulers, and eminent Nigerians converge on the Oyo State capital for the coronation of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are among dignitaries expected at the historic ceremony. Sources disclosed that Obi will pay a courtesy visit to the Olubadan-elect on September 16, ahead of the main event.

Also expected are governors from across the federation, especially from the South-West, as well as top traditional rulers, including the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State and one-time senator, has reportedly been in close contact with political leaders and traditional institutions in preparation for the coronation. His contemporaries in the short-lived Third Republic Senate, led by former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu, have equally confirmed attendance.

Meanwhile, the upgraded Ibadan Airport is set for reopening, following certification checks by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) last week. Governor Seyi Makinde, in a letter to the contractor, said the airport runway is now ready, with local flights expected to resume ahead of the coronation.

Makinde described the completion as a “major milestone,” adding that the reopening would ease travel for dignitaries and ensure a smooth ceremony.

Born in 1944 at Gambari village in Ilorin while his mother was on a trading trip, Ladoja’s early life and Ibadan heritage have been jointly celebrated by both communities. The Emir of Ilorin is also said to have mounted a billboard in his honour.

The coronation of Oba Ladoja is expected to be one of the most colourful in recent memory, bringing together political heavyweights, traditional rulers, and citizens in celebration of Ibadan’s new monarch.

Olayinka Babatunde