The Olubadan-in-Council will on Monday, August 4, convene a crucial meeting to begin the official process for appointing the next Olubadan of Ibadanland following the expiration of the traditional 21-day mourning period for the late monarch, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
Oba Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan, passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 90, after barely a year on the throne.
His transition has paved the way for the ascension of High Chief Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State and the current Otun Olubadan.
The meeting, slated for 11 a.m. at the new Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo in Ibadan North Local Government Area, is expected to formalize Ladoja’s nomination and potentially set the date for his coronation as the 44th Olubadan.
A notice of the meeting, issued by the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, confirmed that the deliberation will be conducted by the kingmakers under the framework of the Ibadan chieftaincy succession system.
Ladoja, who will turn 80 on September 25, 2025, is next in line from the Civil Line of the Olubadan chieftaincy structure — one of the two distinct promotion lines, the other being the Balogun Line.
As a prominent statesman and political figure, Ladoja’s imminent ascension is already generating discussion among residents and cultural stakeholders, many of whom regard his vast administrative experience as a valuable asset to the traditional institution.
Under the unique and well-structured Ibadan succession system, the Olubadan stool rotates among senior chiefs from both lines, following strict adherence to hierarchy and seniority.
