Olubadan: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi set for Ladoja’s coronation in Ibadan

Ibadan airport upgrade complete • Gov Makinde writes contractor

There are indications of plans to use the opportunity offered by the coronation of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on September 26, to bring together all key gladiators and tendencies in the nation’s political class.

It was gathered at the weekend that these include President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, as well as other main stakeholders in the nation’s political circle.

Obi is expected to pay a courtesy visit to Oba Ladoja ahead of the coronation exercise on September 16, the sources said.

This is even as the Ibadan airport that has been undergoing upgrades may be opened for operation any moment from tomorrow (Monday).

It was gathered that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on Thursday concluded assessment of work done by the contractor engaged by the Oyo State government at the airport for certification.

Sources said President Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi, as well as other leading politicians across party lines, have called to congratulate Oba Ladoja on his choice as the next Olubadan of Ibadan land.

On his part, he is said to be maintaining close contact with the personalities as preparations for his coronation peak and progress.

Similarly, former colleagues of Ladoja in the Senate in the botched Third Republic, including the then president of the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, have also confirmed their plans to converge on Ibadan for the coronation.

In the same vein, top class traditional rulers across the country, among them, the Emir of Ilorin, are expected to grace the coronation of Oba Ladoja, who once served as Oyo State governor.

“The trio of President Tinubu, Atiku and Obi are coming. The coronation is going to bring them together on September 26. Some emirs are also coming to the coronation, including the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, because Oba Ladoja was born in Gambari village in Ilorin, the present Kwara State.

“His mother had gone for trading when she gave birth to him in the community in 1944. His naming ceremony was done in Gambari, and also in Ibadan, his town. During those pre-independence days, there were no easy means of transportation. There were reports that the Emir of Ilorin erected a billboard in Ilorin in honour of Ladoja,” another source said.

It was learnt that many governors, including all governors in the six states in the South-West, are expected to attend the coronation.

“Oba Ladoja has reached out to his former colleagues in the Senate during the botched Third Republic, including the president of the Senate at that time, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, in 1992.

“What is going to make the coronation unique is the fact that Oba Ladoja has been governor and senator, so members of the political class are ready to turn out in a huge number at the ceremony.

“President Bola Tinubu and others have spoken to Oba Ladoja on the phone; former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi, have also spoken to him. In fact, Mr Peter Obi is expected to pay a courtesy visit to Oba Ladoja soon.

“Besides, the Ibadan airport was closed to business in March this year. It was supposed to be opened at the end of this month or the middle of October. But the contractor and government have fast-tracked work on the airport.

“The NCAA carried out the last check on the project on Thursday. So the governor has written a letter to the effect that, in order to honour Oba Ladoja, the airport will be reopened so that dignitaries from outside the South-West will be able to land at the airport and also ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention coming up in November in Ibadan.

“The governor wants the whole process to be running in order to ensure a hitch-free exercise,” one of the sources said.

The governor was said to have described the airport project as having reached “a major milestone” and ready for full operations.

Part of Governor Makinde’s letter to the contractor read:

“The upgraded runway is now complete, bringing us closer to reopening the airport.

“Other works are ongoing to ensure it meets the highest standards for local and international operations, but I am pleased to say that local flights will resume soon just in time for the Olubadan coronation.

“As you may know, the coronation of my father, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, will be held on 26 September 2025. I am looking forward to carrying out this assignment and honouring him in this way.

“Great things are indeed happening in Oyo State. Thank you, as always, for your support and for believing in the future we are building together.”