- By Halimah Olamide
Former Governor of Oyo State, Rasidi Ladoja, was officially crowned as a beaded Oba in Ibadan on Monday.
His crowning on Monday ended about seven years of refusal to be a beaded Oba as his eyes are only set on the throne of Olubadan.
Ladoja is one of the 11 High Chiefs of Ibadan who are in line to succeed the current Olubada, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin.
He is now to answer to His Royal Majesty.
Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Bayo Lawal presented the staff of office on behalf of the Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Oba Olakuleyin was present to crown Ladoja.
Ibadan’s chieftaincy order is perhaps the most fixed and predictable in Yorubaland with a long line of would-be Olubadan who join the line as Mogajis from the various families.
In 2017, former Governor Abiola Ajimobi conferred the title of Obaship on some high chiefs and baales.
He conferred on them the right to wear beaded crowns and coronets and be addressed as “His Royal Majesty”.
The action of Ajimobi became a legal war as Ladoja challenged it , accusing Ajimobi of violating the 1957 Ibadan chieftaincy declaration.
A High Court judge, J. Aiki, had nullified the conferment, a ruling which was further challenged by the then Governor.
An appeal court however set aside the ruling by Justice Aiki.
It was not until the assumption of office by the current Governor Seyi Makinde that it was settled that the matter be taken out of court for amicable settlement.
On August 4, Ladoja, during a radio programme had agreed to the beaded crown arrangement if his refusal would jeopardise his ascension to the throne of Olubadan.