By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Ibadan, Nigeria — September 26, 2025
The newly crowned 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the creation of an Ibadan State before the end of his first term in office in 2027.
Speaking shortly after receiving his Staff of Office from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday, Oba Ladoja emphasized that the demand for a separate state is not new but a long-standing aspiration of the Ibadan people.
“Ibadan is not only the largest city in West Africa but also the political headquarters of the South-West. For decades, our people have yearned for Ibadan State. Today, I call on President Tinubu to write his name in gold by making this dream a reality before 2027,” the monarch declared.
The coronation, held at the historic Mapo Hall in Ibadan, drew a powerful assembly of political leaders, traditional rulers, and eminent personalities from across Nigeria. President Tinubu, who was warmly welcomed at the Ibadan Airport earlier in the day, arrived in the company of a formidable entourage that reflected the weight of the occasion.
Among those who received the President at the airport were Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Biodun Oyebanji (BAO) of Ekiti, and the Ekiti State delegation. Also present were the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; Senator Gbenga Daniel; Senator Soji Akanbi; Senator Ayo Adeseun; Hon. Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi; Chief Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); and the 2023 Gubernatorial Candidate for Lagos PDP, Olajide Adediran (Jandor).
Other dignitaries included Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Communication; Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, a respected political leader; as well as several traditional rulers, captains of industry, and cultural leaders who came to witness the landmark event.
The coronation marked the formal ascension of Oba Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State (2003–2007), to the revered throne. In his speech, the monarch underscored Ibadan’s role in Nigeria’s socio-political history.
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“Ibadan has produced leaders, governors, and statesmen who have shaped Nigeria’s history. Our people deserve recognition through statehood. This is not just a request; it is a necessity for fairness and development,” he said.
The call for Ibadan State dates back to the 1980s, with renewed momentum at the 2014 National Conference where delegates listed Ibadan among the proposed new states. Advocates maintain that Ibadan, already the capital of Oyo State, has the infrastructure, population, and historical importance to merit its own state status.
Governor Makinde, in his remarks, congratulated the Olubadan and acknowledged Ibadan’s pivotal place in Oyo State and Nigeria’s history but stopped short of committing to the statehood demand.
Political observers believe the Olubadan’s request, made in the presence of President Tinubu and leading South-West political figures, could reignite national debates over restructuring and state creation, a recurring issue in Nigeria’s constitutional discourse.
As festivities continued, chants of “Ibadan State Now!” echoed through the ancient Mapo Hall, symbolizing both the pride and the collective aspirations of the Ibadan people.
