Former Oyo State governor and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rasidi Ladoja, has been elevated and coronated as an Oba of Ibadanland, by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin1. This followed his decision to douse the tension over the protracted beaded crown controversy in Ibadanland.
Ladoja, who is the next in rank to the sitting Olubadan, had said last week Sunday that he was ready to accept the crown, which he had since 2017 refused to take like his other co-High Chiefs, since, according to him, “it is just a ceremonial crown, and the only obstacle on my way to become Olubadan whenever it is my turn”.
Ladoja was crowned as Oba of Oju Opo of Ibadanland after the maiden meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council held today at the newly-constructed Olubadan Palace at Oke Are in Ibadan. He was afterwards presented with an official certificate by the deputy governor, Chief Adebayo Lawal, who represented his Boss, Governor Seyi Makinde.
In attendance at the crowded ceremony were all the other nine High Chiefs who had earlier accepted the beaded crown from late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, but who were up in arms with Ladoja for refusing to accept the crown like them.
The face-off had led to series of litigations and threat that the former governor would be prevented from being crowned as Olubadan whenever it is his turn.
The position of the other beaded-crown-wearing High Chiefs was buffeted by the 2023 gazetting of the amended Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, a section of which stipulates that only a crown-wearing High Chief can henceforthbe nominated and coronated as Olubadan.
Since Ladoja refused to take the beaded crown, the amended Chieftaincy Law caught up with him, and would be an obstacle in his way unless the extant law is reviewed otherwise.
Declaring to take the crown last week, Ladoja said that many of his loyalists and majority of Ibadan Indigeness both at home and in the Diaspora had said they want him to become Olubadan after the incumbent Olakulehin, and that the only condition that could hinder that is his refusal to take the crown.
He said he decided to take the crown in order to satisfy his people’s demands, lest he be seen to be an unnecessarily adamant person. He added that taking the crown would not have anything added to him or subtract from his status since it is just ceremonial.
Recalling that Ladoja had said that “since the crown is merely ceremonial as it does not require any traditional rites, moreso that it cannot affect my becoming the Olubadan, I have accepted to take the crown based on popular demand of Ibadan sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora who want me to become Olubadan.
Majority of Ibadan people want me to become Olubadan, and they have said that the only obstacle to it is my not accepting the beaded crown.
“So, since based on the theory of tyranny of majority which says that minority will have their say, but the majority will have their way, and the fact that the ratio among us in the Olubadan-in-Council is one to ten, I have decided to accept the crown in order to yield to the demand of my people who want me to become Olubadan”.
