By Bukola Olaomo
With the unique ascension tradition of the ancient city of Ibadan, former Governor and Senator, Rashidi Ladoja is expected to be crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland after the demise of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan who joined his ancetors earlier on Monday. Unlike other Yoruba traiditions, Ibadan monarchs are produced through a sequence of seniority among the high chiefs.
Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, a Nigerian businessman and politician, was born on 25 September, 1944 in Gambari village near Ibadan. His education spans through Ibadan Boys High School (1958-1963) and Olivet Baptist High School (1964-1965). He further earned a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Liege, Belgium (1966-1972).
Upon returning to Nigeria, he obtained a job with Total Nigeria, an oil company, where he worked for 13 years in various positions before venturing into private business in 1985. His business interest ranges from shipping to manufacturing, banking, agriculture and transportation.
He began his political career with an election as the Senate of Nigeria in 1994 during the Nigerian Third Republic. He was also a member of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during the Abacha Political Transition. By 2000, Ladoja had become a director of Standard Trust Bank Limited.
Building on his political foundation, Ladoja was elected Governor of Oyo State in April 2003 on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform and assumed office on 29 May 2003. He was supported by Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, a PDP power broker in the state.
However, in August 2004, Ladoja and Adedibu were locked in a fierce struggle over allocation of government appointees. This dispute was not in Ladoja’s favour as the party supported Lamidi instead.
On 12 January, 2006, Ladoja was impeached by Oyo State Legislators and forced out of office. Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, his deputy, was sworn in as the new governor.
On 12 December 2006, after the Appeal Court, Ibadan, investigated the impeachment and declared it null and illegal, Ladoja resumed office again.
In a bid to continue his governorship career, he contested for a second term but failed to win the PDP nomination for second term.
Ladoja’s political moves has since been dynamic, from being the governorship candidate for Accord Party in Oyo State during the April 2012 and 2015 elections, he moved to African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2018 and then to Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in December 2018.
In August 2024, he became an Oba after he received a ceremonial beaded crown from reigning Olubadan and the Government of Oyo State.
With tradition now pointing in his direction, Oba Ladoja is expected to become the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.
