Rashidi Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, has expressed dissatisfaction with his imminent promotion from chief to beaded-crown-wearing oba, stating that he prefers to be the Olubadan of Ibadan.

Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State,said this during a conversation with media in his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan, shortly after marking Eid at the University of Ibadan Muslims praying area.

In response to Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s plan to promote Ibadan high chiefs to Obaship status next month, the engineer turned politician remarked, “Nothing has changed, you don’t mend what is not broken, it is not fair to elevate high chiefs to Obas, my focus is to become Olubadan, no lesser Oba.”

“I don’t think it is fair to have high chiefs as obas. Who are you competing with? It is not in our tradition.”

“Ladoja is not interested in wearing an elevated crown,” he said.

Makinde recently just signed into law the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill, which gave him the authority to present beaded crowns and coronets to chiefs in the state.

The governor, according to Daily Trust, is said to have agreed to the elevation of the high chiefs. They are expected to be officially installed as traditional rulers on Friday, July 7, 2023.

The high chiefs are Balogun of Ibadan land, Owolabi Olakulehin; Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land, Rashidi Ladoja; Otun Balogun, Tajudeen Ajibola; Osi Olubadan, Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Lateef Adebimpe; Ashipa Olubadan, Biodun Kola-Daisi; Ashipa Balogun, Kola Adegbola; Ekerin Olubadan, Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Olubunmi Isioye; Ekarun Olubadan; Bayo Akande and Ekarun Balogun, Abiodun Azeez.