Ibadan was alive with celebration this weekend as family members, royal drummers, and supporters thronged former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja’s Bodija residence in anticipation of his imminent succession to the Olubadan throne.
A widely shared Instagram reel on July 7, 2025, captured the jubilant scene at Ladoja’s compound, where drumming and song marked a vibrant display of cultural pride and unity.
Family members, close associates and supporters joined in drumming and singing for Ladoja as he edged closer to becoming the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland .
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The excitement is rooted in Ibadan’s time-honoured rotational succession system between the civil (Egbe Agba) and military (Balogun) lines.
With the death of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on July 7, 2025, Ladoja—as Otun Olubadan and the highest-ranking chief in the civil line—is first in line to ascend the throne .
Royal drummers have already relocated to his home in Bodija, a traditional signal of impending ascension .
Ladoja, aged 80 and serving as governor between 2003 and 2007, accepted the ceremonial beaded crown in August 2024, formalizing his position in the civil lineage and cementing his eligibility for the Olubadan role .
The current phase involves formal endorsement by the Olubadan-in-Council and official approval from Governor Seyi Makinde’s office. Although no date has been announced, the transition is widely expected to proceed in keeping with tradition and in a dignified public ceremony.
Cultural enthusiasts online have praised the mood captured in the viral clip, highlighting the powerful mix of tradition and respect that underpins Ibadan’s succession. “When drummers gather at Bodija,” one viewer noted, “you know Ibadan is preparing for a new era.”
Ladoja’s potential crowning as Olubadan is seen as both a continuation of cultural heritage and a moment of personal triumph.
As a former governor with deep roots in both civic leadership and traditional governance, he symbolizes the union between modern political service and historical reverence.
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