As Ibadan once again rolls out the drums to celebrate the new Olubadan(Baba Rashidi Adewolu LADOJA), memory drifts into history to ask: who is the most popular Olubadan in the annals of Ibadanland? Popularity is a fluid word, it may mean humor, humanity, prosperity, or political relevance. But in the collective memory of Ibadan indigenes, two names stand tall: Oba Yesufu Oloyede Ashanke and Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Oba Ashanke: The King of Humor and Humanity
Oba Yesufu Oloyede Ashanke reigned for ten glorious years between 1983 and 1993. His reign is remembered not only for peace and development but also for his unique humor and accessibility. He was a king without stiffness, a monarch who dissolved the burden of protocol and made his palace a home for all.
Ashanke’s humor became legendary, filling Ibadan with laughter that still echoes today:
1. The Oyetan Title : After bestowing numerous chieftaincy titles, his aides told him “Kabiyesi, Oye ti tan” (the titles are finished). With characteristic wit, Baba replied, “Oye tan itself is a title!” and immediately conferred Oyetan of Ibadanland on an Igbo businessman.
2. Bashorun to MKO Abiola :When he honored Chief M.K.O. Abiola with the revered title of Bashorun, critics protested. Ashanke silenced them with a political quip: “Anyone who can defeat MKO in the war of politics shall be made Bashorun.”
3. Ibadan’s Love for Strangers : Ashanke appointed a Lebanese, Chief I. Mudah, as Babalaje of Ibadan, embodying the spirit of Ibadan’s hospitality: “Ibadan gba oni’le, o gba alejo” (Ibadan accepts both indigenes and strangers).
4. “Alao mi ò sí nílé” : When the landline phone rang, Ashanke answered, mishearing “Hello” as “Alao” (his son’s name). He responded, “Alao mi ò sí níl锓My Alao is not at home.” The city laughed for years.
5. Cake or Akara:At a ceremony, when cake was served, Baba mistook it for akara and told his colleagues, “Don’t finish the cake o, they will soon bring pap.”
Ashanke’s reign was filled with warmth, spontaneity, and laughter, a reminder that leadership is not only about authority but also about humanity.
Oba Ladoja: The Monarch of Prosperity and Politics
If Ashanke embodied humor, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja embodies prosperity and humane governance. A successful businessman in shipbuilding and oil, Ladoja became Governor of Oyo State and left an indelible mark.
He introduced the 13th-month salary, easing the lives of civil servants.
He championed road construction projects, opening up Ibadan’s arteries for modern development.
He remains one of the most accessible and humane leaders, respected for combining wealth, governance, and humility.
Today, as Olubadan, Ladoja is celebrated not only for his royal crown but for his history of service, philanthropy, and political relevance.
Other Monarchs of Note
Ibadan’s royal history also salutes illustrious monarchs such as Oba Akinyele, Oba Emmanuel Opeinde, Oba Emmanuel Odugade Odulana, Oba Aje Ogunguniso (who courageously resisted political tampering with the Ibadan chieftaincy system during Ajimobi’s era), and now Oba Olakulehin, who carries the mantle with dignity.
The Genius of Ibadan Chieftaincy
Unlike many traditional systems corrupted by wealth, politics, or favoritism, the Ibadan succession system is a masterpiece of cultural order. Guided by Ifa divination and structured hierarchy, once a king joins his ancestors, the next in line ascends, no lobbying, no wealth, no politics. In Ibadan, kingship is not bought, it is earned by patience, tradition, and destiny.
As the saying goes:
“Tí Ọba bá ti sùn, Ọba mìíràn á jí.”
(When one king sleeps, another awakens.)
Ibadan Yàtò, Ibadan Ṣe Bẹ́bẹ́
Ibadan is different. Ibadan is unique. From Ashanke’s laughter to Ladoja’s prosperity, the city continues to prove that leadership is not only about crowns but about character, community, and continuity.
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