The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has declared that his area of rulership does not extend beyond 11 Local Government Areas of Oyo State and about 4 million people residing there, as clearly stated in Oyo State Chiefs law and Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
Oba Ladoja, who spoke on Sunday, December 14, at the coronation luncheon organised to celebrate his ascension to the throne by Ibadan Foundation, held at Kakanfo Hotel, Ibadan, said that he had a lot of work in his hands to bother himself about what he is not.
The first class monarch, in a statement by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, told an impressive crowd of Ibadan heavy weights, including Asiwaju Bode Amao, Chief Bayo Oyero, Otun Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola and the Iyalode group that he had a clear-cut idea of how he wanted to manage the challenges facing Ibadan.
The monarch stated: “When people were protesting about the Circular Road, my house was their first port of call. And i briefed His Excellency, Gov Seyi Makinde, about it.
“We are confronted with land grabbing challenges. This was why we set up anti-land grabbing committee.We are awaiting their report.
“But I want to hint you that land reform is underway. When we notice security breaches anywhere within our area of jurisdiction, we know who to call. We know who to hold responsible.
“We set up Olubadan Economic and Investment Committee to recommend to us how to revive so many industries that have been closed down for years in Ibadan. We want them to re-open for business to generate employment opportunities for our able-bodied youths.
“We have inherited legacies of bravery, nobility, hard work, enviable record from our forefathers. This doesn’t mean we should resign ourselves to fate.”
Oba Ladoja made a reference to the conferment Okanlomo Odua chieftaincy title on Ibadan’s illustrious son, Engr Dotun Sanusi, by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, noting the number of monarchs, not just from Ibadan, but all over Oyo State, who graced the occasion in solidarity.
