Ladoja set to wear the Crown: Ex-Oyo Governor to become 44th Olubadan

Former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, is set to ascend the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, following the death of Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin.

Oba Olakunlehin passed away on July 7, 2025.

Ladoja’s ascension is in line with Ibadan’s distinctive and orderly succession tradition, which rotates the Olubadan stool between the civil (Otun/Agbaakin) and military (Balogun) lines.

As the most senior chief in the Otun line, Ladoja is now next in line to become the paramount ruler of the ancient city.

Born on 25 September 1944 in Gambari village near Ibadan, Ladoja received his early education at Ibadan Boys’ High School and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, before travelling to Belgium where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Liège.

He began his professional career at Total Nigeria, rising through the ranks before transitioning into business and politics.

In 2003, he was elected Governor of Oyo State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Although impeached in January 2006, the Supreme Court reinstated him in December 2006, allowing him to complete his tenure by May 2007.

A dominant figure in Oyo politics for decades, Ladoja has contested various elections under different political platforms. He joined the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in 2018, continuing to wield influence in the state’s political landscape.

With his imminent ascension, Ibadan prepares to welcome a monarch whose legacy spans governance, enterprise, and royal tradition.