The newly crowned 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has urged President Bola Tinubu to approve the creation of Ibadan State, reviving a decades-long agitation that has featured prominently in constitutional review debates.
Speaking at his coronation on Friday at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, where he received the staff of office from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Oba Ladoja said the demand had the backing of the Olubadan-in-Council and represented the long-standing wishes of the people.
“They (Olubadan-in-Council) have a message for you, Mr President. They want Ibadan State. I’m sure that if President Tinubu has one option for state creation from Oyo State, it will be Ibadan State.
“Please, do this in good time. We can’t wait to have Ibadan State before the 2027 election,” he said.
The monarch, who turned 81 a day before his installation, pledged that his reign would focus on service, urban renewal, and economic revival, with plans to launch a multi-billion-naira programme to resuscitate ailing industries and create jobs for youths.
“Our role as kings is not just to wear beads and acquire women but to serve the people. Since God spared me till today, I will serve Ibadanland with all my powers,” he said.
The call for Ibadan State is not new. For decades, indigenes and groups such as the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) have campaigned for Ibadan to be carved out of Oyo State. They argue that Ibadan, historically the headquarters of the old Western Region and one of the largest cities in West Africa, deserves a state status to reflect its size, influence, and economic potential.
The issue has resurfaced during successive constitutional amendment exercises, including the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, where different regions have pressed for new states.
President Tinubu, who attended the coronation, congratulated the new Olubadan and described him as “a rare gem in history,” recalling his impeachment battle as governor of Oyo State.
“Today is an exciting day. It’s a great honour for me as president to witness this historic coronation. Your perseverance, determination and reliability are impeccable,” Tinubu said, while assuring Nigerians that the economy had “turned the corner.”
Governor Makinde, while presenting the staff of office, congratulated “all sons and daughters of Ibadanland at home and abroad” and affirmed the stability of the Ibadan succession system, which he described as a source of pride.
He added that Tinubu’s arrival in Ibadan aboard the first wide-bodied aircraft to land at the upgraded Samuel Ladoke Akintola Airport symbolised “a new era of progress” for the city.
The coronation drew a roll call of prominent Nigerians, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Ọlaoye; Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State; Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State; Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State; and Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
Also in attendance were former governors Donald Duke, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun, and Ibrahim Shekarau, alongside political leaders, lawmakers, and members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes.
Oba Ladoja’s ascension, which followed the well-established succession system of the Olubadan throne, is widely regarded as a symbol of unity and continuity.
His coronation, coinciding with his 81st birthday, marks the beginning of a reign that he promised would prioritise peace, unity, and the advancement of Ibadanland.
