Ibadan is in full celebration mode, and rightly so. Today, all roads lead to the iconic Mapo Hall for the coronation of Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. If you have been in the city these past few days, you would have felt it, the energy, the colour, the sheer excitement.

From Ring Road to Bodija, Mokola to Oja’ba, Ibadan is alive with drumming, dancing, and processions. It feels less like an event and more like a festival that the whole city has been waiting for.

Hotels are fully booked, visitors have poured in from every corner of Nigeria, and even the streets themselves are dressed up. Posters, banners, and giant billboards of Oba Ladoja in full royal regalia line the roads, declaring “Long live the Olubadan” and “Ibadan pride, Yoruba glory.” By night, the skyline glows with illuminated portraits, turning the ancient city into a carnival ground ahead of this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

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And it is not just Ibadan people who are celebrating. The guest list reads like a who’s who of Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu has confirmed he will attend, alongside governors, former presidents, traditional rulers, business leaders, and cultural icons. This will go down as one of the most glamorous and widely attended Olubadan coronation ever.

A journey years in the making

For anyone who knows Ibadan’s chieftaincy system, Oba Ladoja’s coronation is the fulfilment of a lifelong journey. The Olubadan line is famously orderly and democratic. It all begins when a man becomes Mogaji, head of his family compound. From there, it is a slow but steady climb through 22 ranks until one day, if date allows, he becomes Olubadan.

This journey for Ladoja began in the 1980s when he was installed as Mogaji of the Ladoja family. His rise through the hierarchy was steady, marked by resilience, patience, and an unwavering belief in the tradition. In 2022, he became Otun Olubadan, the highest civil chief, making him next in line.

This is a man who once governed Oyo State as an elected governor, fought political battles that shook the state, stood firm when others bowed, and yet never lost sight of the dream to wear the Olubadan crown. Today, that dream has come true.

More than a crown

The Olubadan stool is no ordinary throne. It is one of the most respected in Yorubaland, admired for its fairness and order. Oba Ladoja’s coronation is not just about Ibadan, it is about preserving centuries-old system that has resisted politics and modern tampering.

This coronation shows that tradition endures, no matter the challenges. And reminds Nigerians that kingship is not only about crowns and ceremonies, but about service, resilience, and the trust of the people.

Today, as the drums echo across Mapo Hill and the city dances in unison, it is clear that this is more than a coronation. It is history in motion, a dream fulfilled, and a people celebrating their king.

Long live the Olubadan.

Anita Chinedu