‘His royal majesty’: Ladoja finally wears Ibadan beaded crown — after 7-year resistance

Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of Oyo state, has officially received the Ibadan beaded crown after seven years of resistance.

Ladoja was presented the crown on Monday by Bayo Lawal, acting governor of the state, during a ceremony held at the palace of Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan, is one of the 11 high chiefs in the succession line to Olakunlehin.

Ladoja’s coronation comes about seven years after he refused the beaded crown which confers the “his royal majesty” title on him.

The former governor announced his acceptance of the crown while speaking on Fresh 105.9 FM on August 4.

He said if his refusal to accept the beaded crown would affect his ascension to the throne as Olubadan, he would accept it in ceremonial capacity.

BACKGROUND

In 2017, late Abiola Ajimobi, then governor of Oyo, conferred the title of oba on some high chiefs and baales, giving them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets and be addressed as “his royal majesty”.

Ladoja challenged the move, arguing that it violated the 1957 Ibadan chieftaincy declaration.

The Otun Olubadan argued that there cannot be more than one oba at a time, and that an individual cannot become oba twice.

The case went to court and after much back and forth, it ruled that matters returned to status quo.

But in June 2023, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, signed the chieftaincy amendment bill into law following its passage by the state house of assembly.

He subsequently approved the promotion of 11 Ibadan high chiefs to be crowned obas.

Under the amended law, the 11 high chiefs, who form the Olubadan-in-council, were recognised as the traditional heads of the 11 LGAs in Ibadanland.

All the high chiefs accepted the development except Ladoja who was absent at the coronation.

Again, he headed to court to challenge the elevation of his “high chief colleagues” to obas.

Among other prayers, Ladoja asked for a declaration that the newly crowned obas cannot again aspire for the throne of Olubadan, as they are no longer chiefs.

In October 2023, when the case came up for hearing, the presiding judge declined to hear the suit and ordered the return of the case file to the chief justice for reassignment.

There has been no public record of any development in the case.