The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has joined his ancestors at the age of 90.
Before his death, Oba Olakulehin became only the second Olubadan to rule from a modern palace. The first was Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike, who resided in the original palace at Oja’ba.
The new palace at Oke-Aremo, built and inaugurated by Governor Makinde, is now the official residence for future Olubadans, with Oba Olakulehin being the first to use it.
Traditionally, the Olubadan title alternates between two royal lines — the Balogun line, which is more war-oriented, and the Otun line, which is more civil in nature. The succession follows a strict hierarchy, where a candidate must gradually rise through chieftaincy ranks.
Oba Olakulehin hailed from the Balogun line and had to wait 38 years after becoming Jagun Balogun to finally ascend the throne.
With his passing, the next in line to become Olubadan is expected to be from the Otun line. That man is former Oyo State governor, Chief Rasheed Ladoja, who currently holds the highest chieftaincy position in the Otun line.
Chief Ladoja, who governed Oyo between 2003 and 2007, is no stranger to public service or tradition. Born on September 24, 1944, in the Gambari area of Ibadan, he attended Ibadan Boys High School (1958–1963) and Olivet Baptist High School (1964–1965). He later studied chemical engineering at the University of Liège in Belgium from 1966 to 1972.
His political career began with his election to the Nigerian Senate in 1993 during the short-lived Third Republic, where he served under the United Nigeria Congress Party during General Abacha’s transition programme. By 2000, he became a director at Standard Trust Bank.
In 2003, Ladoja was elected governor of Oyo State under the PDP, supported by the late political heavyweight, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu. Their relationship later turned sour due to disagreements over political appointments.
This led to Ladoja’s impeachment on January 12, 2006, and his deputy, Adebayo Alao-Akala, took over. However, the Court of Appeal later overturned the impeachment, and the Supreme Court confirmed the ruling, allowing him to resume office on December 12, 2006.
After failing to secure the PDP ticket for a second term, Ladoja supported Action Congress candidates and later contested for governor under the Accord Party in 2011 and 2015, both times losing to Abiola Ajimobi. He later moved to the African Democratic Congress and the Zenith Labour Party before stepping back from politics to focus on his traditional role.
On August 12, 2024, the late Olakulehin officially handed a ceremonial crown to High Chief Ladoja — a crown he had earlier turned down during Ajimobi’s tenure.
