The newly installed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the long-demanded creation of Ibadan State before the next general elections in 2027.
The monarch made the appeal shortly after receiving his staff of office during his official coronation ceremony.
Addressing the gathering in Yoruba, Oba Ladoja emphasised that the demand for a separate Ibadan State remained a collective wish of his people.
“Our people have a clear message to the President,” the Olubadan said.
“They believe Ibadan State must be created as a matter of priority, and I am only voicing that desire on their behalf.”
The coronation, which drew a large crowd of traditional rulers, political leaders, and residents, was attended by President Tinubu and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
Governor Makinde, while congratulating the Olubadan, described his emergence as a defining moment for Ibadanland.
“The ascension of Oba Ladoja to the throne of his forefathers is a source of pride for all Ibadan people,” he said.
“This occasion reminds us of the strength of our traditions and the unity that holds us together as a people.”
The ceremony combined traditional and modern rites. Earlier, Oba Ladoja had received the symbolic Akoko leaf at the Labosinde Compound in Oja’ba, signifying his traditional induction.
This was followed by the official presentation of the staff and instruments of office at Mapo Hall, where Governor Makinde presided over the historic event.
Notably, Makinde had cut short his official leave to personally oversee the installation of the 44th Olubadan, underscoring the significance of the moment.
His resumption was formally confirmed in a letter read on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly by Deputy Speaker Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi.
The demand for an Ibadan State is not new. In October 2024, the House of Representatives debated a constitutional amendment bill seeking to carve out Ibadan State and Oyo State from the current Oyo State.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Akeem Adeyemi, son of the late Alaafin of Oyo, alongside six lawmakers, has already passed second reading.
According to details of the bill, Ibadan would serve as the capital of the proposed Ibadan State, while Oyo town would become the capital of the new Oyo State.
For decades, indigenes and stakeholders in Ibadan have pushed for statehood, arguing that the city’s size, population, and cultural influence justify its recognition as a separate state.
With the new Olubadan adding his voice to the call, pressure may now mount on the federal government to revisit the demand ahead of 2027.