By Ismael Taiwo
Today, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, received the heritage lineage crown from His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Olalere Owolabi Olakulehin, Olubadan of Ibadanland, in a ceremony attended by the Olubadan in Council.
Recall, in 2017 during Ajimobi-led administration, Ladoja maintained his stance that he would not entertain any attempt to crown him as a lesser Oba when the then Governor implemented the reviewed chieftaincy titles.
Pa Ladoja was today crowned as one of the lesser Obas as against his stance before the demise of the ex-governor of Oyo State, Late Ajimobi who dared all odds to implement the reviewed chieftaincy titles and elevated Olubadan High Chiefs to beaded wearing Obas despite the harsh criticisms and innuendos that greeted the decision.
Ladoja was a staunch critic of the decision, he was the only High Chief that refused to wear the beaded crown and thereafter instituted a litigation against the then state government to affirm his stance.
Today, history has been made as what Pa Ladoja stood against during Abiola Ajimobi era has been finally embraced by him and as such he has been crowned as one of the lesser traditional rulers in Ibadan.
Earlier this time, Ladoja had also been trading words with Governor Seyi Makinde who also took a bold step by following the footsteps of his late predecessor and made a declaration of the reviewed chieftaincy title as a prerequisite to clinch the exalted position of Olubadan.
This pronouncement didn’t go well with Pa Ladoja and his camp who declared openly that such decision was a calculated attempt to prevent him from becoming Olubadan when his time comes to clinch the position. Ladoja vehemently claimed that he would not be coerced to wear the beaded crown.
In the twist of event, Pa Ladoja finally caved in and accepted to be crowned as the lesser Oba, affirming his decision to backtrack to the popular demand of his people.
The event was held today at the Palace of Olubadan witnessed by several dignitaries in the State and the coronation was spearheaded by Olubadan of Ibadan in the presence of the Deputy Governor of the State, Barrister Adebayo Lawal.
This decision by Pa Adewolu to accept the beaded crown is a testament to the good intention of Late Ajimobi to restructure the Obaship setting of Oyo State in line with the modern world despite the criticism that trailed the decision.
Ajimobi in heaven will be dancing to ‘duduke’ as he has been finally vindicated by his traducers who out of desperation for political power threw out the baby with bathwater.
Taking bold decision even when the multitude goes against you is the hallmark of leadership as some of us who believed the decision of the then Governor to review the chieftaincy titles was borne out of the desire to modernize Ibadan Obaship were vilified but today we are all vindicated.
History has a way of fixing itself in the memory of people, today the history has been written and this will continue to linger in the political firmament of Oyo State.
Ismael Taiwo writes from Ibadan
He can be reached via: taheewo2004@gmail.com