In Ibadanland, stories of leadership often carry the weight of destiny. Few, however, are as striking as the intertwined journeys of High Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, former Governor of Oyo State and Olubadan-designate, and Engr. Seyi Makinde, the current Governor of the state.
What binds the two men is more than politics. It is a tale of trust, reciprocity, and providence—one in which a mentor once opened the gates of power for his protégé, and now, years later, that protégé will formally crown his mentor as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The story begins in 2019, at a time when Oyo’s political climate was fierce and uncertain. Seyi Makinde, though passionate and determined, had suffered two previous defeats at the polls.
Many doubted his chances. Then stepped in Ladoja, the respected Ibadan High Chief and political heavyweight.
Ladoja brokered the coalition of opposition parties that tipped the scales in Makinde’s favor, giving him the political strength he needed. For Makinde, it was not just an endorsement—it was a lifeline.
“When others doubted, Baba Ladoja believed in me,” Makinde later admitted. “He gave me the strength of his name and the weight of his structure.”
That faith would eventually propel Makinde into the Agodi Government House as governor, reshaping the political history of Oyo State.
Now, six years later, fate has written a different chapter. With the passing of Oba Lekan Balogun, Ibadanland prepares for a new Olubadan.
The eyes of the city, steeped in tradition and pride, turn to Rashidi Ladoja—the man who once made a governor, now ready to wear the crown himself.
And standing by him will be Governor Seyi Makinde, who carries the constitutional duty and personal honor of officially presenting Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan.
Observers describe the moment as a “circle of destiny”—the godfather of yesterday, crowned by the godson of today.
The connection between Ladoja and Makinde transcends the political arena. Ladoja embodies the gravitas of Ibadan’s traditions, while Makinde represents the vigor of modern governance.
Together, their journeys show how politics and culture, humility and loyalty, can weave a powerful narrative.
“It is not just about crowning an Olubadan,” said one Mogaji from the Council of Chiefs. “It is about honoring a man who gave us a governor, and now, the governor crowns him our king.”
From the corridors of power at Agodi to the revered Mapo Hall, the paths of these two leaders have come full circle.
What began as political mentorship has evolved into a historic coronation, one that Ibadan elders and historians already regard as symbolic of fate’s hand in leadership.
This is more than politics; it is providence. Their story will be told for generations as a lesson in humility, loyalty, and the inevitability of destiny.
For Ibadanland, the coronation of Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan is not just the ascension of a king. It is the completion of a story only fate itself could have written.