By Muhammad Mamman
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has congratulated the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, ahead of his coronation on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a goodwill message issued by his aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo offered a Yoruba royal prayer: “Ade a pe lori, bata a pe lese” — “May the crown endure on your head, and may your shoes last long on your feet.”
Obasanjo, writing from New York where he is attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly, described the coronation as a formality, noting that Ladoja had already assumed the revered throne.
In his letter dated 14 July, 2025, the former president urged the monarch to clearly separate traditional authority from political power.
“It is an exalted and responsible position to be traditional ruler of all Ibadan people. It requires humility, patience, divine wisdom, tolerance, and broad counsel to succeed. Traditional rulership does not compete or conflict with political rulership,” he wrote.
Obasanjo hailed Oba Ladoja’s ascension as both historic and significant, stressing that with unity and wisdom, the new Olubadan could strengthen the legacy of one of Nigeria’s most prestigious traditional thrones.
