Ladoja bows to pressure, accepts to wear beaded crown

• Says nothing can stop him from becoming Olubadan
• Folarin, Ogundipe laud ex-governor’s decision

Former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, yesterday, said that nothing could stop him from becoming the Olubadan of Ibadanland by God’s grace.

Ladoja said he had accepted to receive and wear the beaded crown as part of the new requirements to ascend the coveted throne of Olubadan.

Ladoja disclosed this while featuring on a live radio programme in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland changed his hard stance against his opposition to becoming a beaded crown monarch in Ibadanland.

The former Oyo State governor said that numerous Ibadan and non-Ibadan people had mounted pressures on him to consent to becoming a bead-wearing monarch to pave the way for his ascension to the throne when the time comes.

He said: “By the grace of God, I will become Olubadan. God has been merciful to me. My blood pressure has been stable.

“Anyone God destined to become Olubadan will become Olubadan. There is no amount of obstacles that they may put on the road, if God says someone will become Olubadan, he will become Olubadan.

“I will do what Ibadan people want. Everything is being determined by God. We have had many people who became Balogun that did not become Olubadan. We have had many people who became OtunOlubadan but did not become Olubadan. Omiyale and Kuye died 10 days apart.

“It is a tough decision but the voice of the people is the voice of God. That is what the people want.”

Meanwhile, former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Teslim Folarin and erstwhile President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lanre Ogundipe, have commended Ladoja for accepting to wear the beaded crown if that would allow him to attain the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland.

In a WhatsApp message made available to The Guardian, spokesman to the senator, YekinOlaniyi, wrote, “His Excellency, High Chief Rashidi AdewoluLadoja is a leader in all ramifications. He was prevailed upon by eminent religious leaders and influential people in Ibadan to stoop to conquer. Baba made his far-reaching decision in the interest of peace and harmony in Ibadanland”

On the other hand, Ogundipe said: “Ladoja rescinded his earlier resolve not to bend his head to the ceremonial crown, being a high chief, which is an equivalent of a Second Class Oba. With the wishes of the people of Ibadan, he’s left with no option but to yield and submit to the yearnings of his people. He cannot be indifferent to people’s voices.”