In a ceremony attended by the President of Nigeria His excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu and many other dignitaries like the governors from the south west, and the governor of Oyo state, Gov Seyi Makinde, Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja was crowned the 44TH Olubadan of Ibadan today Friday  26th.

The people of the city turned out in great numbers to grace the occasion and the ceremony itself was unprecedented in highlighting great traditional and cultural beliefs of the ancient city and that of the Yorubas at large.

Sen. Ladoja is a successful entrepreneur and has endured an influential political career first as a senator and then as the governor of Oyo state but was impeached during his tenure and later reinstated by the law courts.

He is 81 years old. And his net worth is in billions. 

The Olubadan-in-Council has selected the Controvicial former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as the next and 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, on Monday, August 4. 2025.

The announcement was made after formal nominations was made at a meeting in the Olubadan palace at Oke-Aremo in Ibadan.

Ladoja, a Lagos-based businessman, ran for the gubernatorial election of Oyo State in 2003 and won, but fell out with his political mentors who conspired with the then-President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, to remove him from office and install his late deputy. Otunba Christopher Alao Akala.

He was later returned after the court overturned the controversial impeachment, but couldn't serve a second term.

He, however, entered into another controversial altercation with the next governor of Oyo state, Governor Ajimobi over the installation of more kings for Ibadan land.

Ladoja was vehemently against the conversion of the Ibadan high chiefs to kings, and he had to go to court.

The controversy could not be resolved even with the coming in of the next governor, Seyi Makinde, until it was obvious that Ladoja had become the next in line for the Olubadan throne. And his chance of nomination was under threat.

No doubt, the most powerful Olubadan in terms of influence, wealth, age, and political power. Always insisting on a principled lifestyle.

He, however, condescended to be crowned as a small royalty before his impending coronation despite his avowed resentment of the new tradition.