Ibadan is set to witness history on Friday, as Senator Oba Rashidi Adewolu Akanmu Ladoja (Arusa I) will be formally crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The coronation, scheduled for the historic Mapo Hall, will draw dignitaries from across Nigeria, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde expected to lead the guest list.
Traffic restrictions for coronation
In preparation for the event, the Coronation Organising Committee, chaired by former Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes President Chief Bayo Oyero, has announced traffic diversions around Mapo Hall.
From 7:00 a.m. on Friday, four major routes — Beere Junction inward Mapo Hall, Born Photo Junction inward Oja’ba, Idi-Arere Junction inward Oja’ba, and Itamerin Junction inward Mapo Hall — will be closed to traffic.
To ease congestion, three official parking spaces have been designated: the Ibadan North Local Government car park at Agodi, the football field beside Yemetu Police Station, and Liberty Stadium, Oke Ado.
Shuttle buses will convey well-wishers with valid invitations from these car parks to Mapo Hall. Vendors were advised to arrive between 6:00 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. before the road closures.
Only the convoys of President Tinubu and Governor Makinde will be permitted access through the restricted routes.
Prayers, celebrations
As part of coronation week activities, a Special Birthday and Ascendancy Prayer was held in honour of Oba Ladoja.
The event featured Qur’anic recitations, tributes, and cultural interludes. Barrister Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, President-General of the CCII, delivered the welcome address, while His Eminence Alhaji Daud Makanjuola Akinola, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo, Kogi and Delta, led prayers and gave the vote of thanks.
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The Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Taiwodeen Ajibola, hailed the monarch’s rise as “a moment of renewal for Ibadanland.”
Who is Rashidi Ladoja?
Born on 25 September 1944 in Gambari, Ibadan, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja is the son of a cocoa trader and a respected community leader.
He studied at Ibadan Boys High School and Olivet Baptist High School, Ogbomoso, before earning a degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Liège, Belgium.
He worked with Total Nigeria for 13 years before venturing into business, with interests spanning shipping, agriculture, manufacturing, and banking.
Ladoja entered politics in the early 1990s, serving briefly as a senator, and later emerged as Governor of Oyo State (2003–2007).
His turbulent governorship was marked by an impeachment in 2006 and a dramatic reinstatement by the Supreme Court later that year.
Beyond politics, Ladoja steadily rose through Ibadan’s traditional hierarchy, serving as Otun Olubadan until his selection as the next monarch.
He is the first former Oyo State governor to ascend the throne of Olubadan, blending political experience with traditional authority.
A historic moment
Friday’s coronation at Mapo Hall promises a blend of history, tradition, and state presence. For many in Ibadanland, the installation of Oba Rashidi Ladoja is not just the crowning of a monarch but the celebration of a life that bridges politics, culture, and community service.
Crediblenewsng.com
