One Year Of Arusa I: The Servant-Leader On The Throne Of His Forefathers
By Professor Babatunde Ayeleru
As His Imperial Majesty, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Olubadan of Ibadanland, turns 82 and celebrates his first anniversary on the throne of his forefathers in grand style, I join the sons and daughters of Ibadan and, indeed, the entire people of Ibadanland in congratulating Kabiyesi and praying for him to enjoy many more years in good health.
In his characteristic and sometimes unpredictable style, Oba Ladoja chose spirituality over fun and merriment to mark his first anniversary on the throne. Rather than indulge in elaborate celebrations, the Olubadan chose to give thanks to Allah by visiting the House of Allah at the Kaabah in Makkah and subsequently paying a visit to the Mosque of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Al-Ameen.
When Senator Ladoja ascended the throne of his forefathers last year, I told some of my colleagues that, to my knowledge, if there was anything that gladdened the hearts of the majority of Ibadan sons and daughters, and indeed the inhabitants of this ancient city, it was the ascension of His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Senator) Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa ma ru tise I to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Oba Rashidi Ladoja has always told us that “only God, the Alpha and Omega,” chooses an Olubadan of Ibadanland. This has never been in doubt. In his journey to the highly revered throne of the Olubadan, Ladoja completely submitted himself to the will of Allah (SWT).
This piece is not an attempt to regurgitate the enviable virtues of Oba Ladoja, which millions of Nigerians, both at home and abroad, have discussed across various media platforms, from digital to traditional media. My focus here is, based on my very close relationship with Oba Ladoja as a follower, mentee and son, to reflect on what I anticipated as the possible, mouth-watering and far-reaching dividends of Oba Rashidi Ladoja’s Olubadanship-the unprecedented development and opportunities that could accrue to Ibadan in particular and Oyo State in general.
In my prediction of what Ibadan and Oyo State stood to benefit from His Imperial Majesty, Rashidi Ladoja, in his new role as Olubadan. What I found difficult to resolve in my estimation was how the new Olubadan would negotiate and navigate his well-known “servant-leader” tendencies and approach to leadership alongside the royal and kingly traditions of the throne, where an Oba, nay a Kabiyesi, “rules without questioning” (Ka bii o si), as a traditional or natural ruler ordained by God, rather than as a “servant” in the context of public or civil service.
As we have all witnessed in the last one year, Oba Ladoja has brought his influence and connections to bear in attracting development, peace, sanity and unprecedented recognition to Ibadan and, by extension, to Oyo State and neighbouring states. I remember that, upon becoming Olubadan, Oba Ladoja repeatedly stated that he was no longer a politician but a royal father and the father of all politicians, irrespective of their political leanings. I also remember clearly that when Kabiyesi was promoted to Otun Olubadan, he told us that his politics had become “developmental”—meaning that he was only interested in politics that could bring growth and peace to Ibadanland and Oyo State as a whole. That explains why he supports politicians and non-politicians alike when they approach him on matters concerning the development of society and the wellbeing of the citizenry. Without doubt, we have seen tangible gains of Arusa I as a result of his deliberate choice of developmental politics over unproductive partisan politics.
We all know how active Senator Ladoja was as a member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). We can also remember how and when he left Nigeria and went into self-exile during the military era when the Abacha junta was hunting for him. He invested all that he had in the struggle—money, wealth, assets, time and even the risk to his life. In fact, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu still owes many of us an explanation for the conspicuous omission of Senator Ladoja’s name from the list of heroes of June 12 who were recently honoured. I believe that it is not too late for the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to make amends by appropriately honouring Oba Rashidi Ladoja as a hero of June 12.
For a good observer of Oba Ladoja’s approach to life, he has always strived for good living, welfare and the wellbeing of everyone around him. Within a period of one year, Kabiyesi has attracted major infrastructure projects and development opportunities for the benefit of Ibadan, Oyo State and neighbouring states such as Ogun and Osun states. The reconstruction and dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road was the first request Olubadan Ladoja placed before the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not ask for any personal favour or pecuniary gain.
The dualisation of the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road was the second major project associated with the support extended to the Olubadan by the President. Indeed, the Honourable Minister of Works, David Umahi, during the flag-off of Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road project, openly stated that the two roads being reconstructed and dualised were approved as part of President Tinubu’s support for the Olubadan’s reign. More recently, the channelisation of Kudeti was also approved by the Federal Government, and work is ongoing on the three projects.
All these gains did not come by accident. Senator Rashidi Ladoja and President Tinubu served as governors at same times in this 4th Republic: Tinubu from 1999 to 2007, and Ladoja from 2003 to 2007. Before the Fourth Republic, both men served as senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the defunct Third Republic. They were in the trenches and in exile as NADECO warriors. These are men who, in many respects, share a commitment to the development of human capital and the environment.
I can pardon those who ignorantly believe that Oba Ladoja has become partisan because of his closeness to the President. They have probably, or deliberately, failed to understand the inherent relationship between the duo, which dates back many years before Asiwaju’s presidency and Ladoja’s Obaship.
From my closeness to Kabiyesi, I can maintain that Olubadan is not partisan. He sees all politicians as his sons and daughters, but Ladoja will never close his eyes to misgovernance or any anti-masses policy. When he was in active politics, he dedicated himself to the welfare and wellbeing of the people, with particular interest in the survival and prosperity of the downtrodden. Ladoja is wealthy in all ramifications. God has been kind to him and this, according to him, underscores the reasons why his policies and personal values have always been pro-masses. As a billionaire, Rashidi Ladoja lives a prudent nay spartan life. Kabiyesi is very judicious and accountable. He respects the laws of the land and enjoins his followers to be law-abiding. Oba Ladoja does not tolerate any acts of indiscipline from his followers and mentees. Olubadan is a man of peace, but when and where he sees the powerful trying to oppress the weak, he will wrestle with powerful individuals because he always insists that power should be used to protect both the weak and the strong in the society.
Within the first two weeks of his installation as Olubadan of Ibadanland, he constituted several royal committees to protect and emancipate the people socially, economically and politically. Such committees include the Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, the Ibadan Economic Development Committee, and a host of others. The membership and leadership of these committees are made up of sons and daughters of Ibadan who are seasoned professionals, former ministers, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and other accomplished citizens.
Let me illustrate one of these attributes of Kabiyesi Olubadan Rashidi Ladoja with a recent personal experience. An illustrious son of Oyo State is in the process of establishing a private university in Ido Local Government, Oyo State. Ido is one of the local government areas in what is popularly called Ibadan Less-City. There are others like Oluyole, Akinyele, Egbeda and Ona-Ara. The private university is gradually taking off, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) has conducted its first resource verification visit. But the land grabbers would not allow the proprietor to concentrate on the physical development of the university.
After the first visit, the NUC was very impressed and sent an official letter to Olubadan to garner his support for the university. I was privileged to be part of the team led by our distinguished Professor Dawud Noibi that presented the letter to the Olubadan and his Council at the Oke-Aremo Palace. Kabiyesi Ladoja, a First-Class graduate of Chemical Engineering from the prestigious Université de Liège, Belgium, was visibly excited. He prayed for and thanked the owner of the proposed university, Mr Zakariya Akinpeju, FCA. He also prayed for the smooth take-off of the institution. Kabiyesi pledged and assured the unflinching support of the Olubadan and his Council for the smooth take-off and for a peaceful and enabling environment for the university.
As is customary in Yorubaland, while visiting a palace, presenting a small gift to the Kabiyesi is not a bad idea. To the surprise of many, except a few of us who are familiar with Oba Rashidi Ladoja’s style, Kabiyesi declined to accept the cash gift which the team presented to the Council. Oba Ladoja wondered why he should accept such a gift from someone who had personally invested his resources in the development of his kingdom. Instead, Olubadan directed that the Olubadan-in-Council should use all legal means to rid the university site of the menace of land grabbers and provide a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for the growth of the new university, which will obviously serve the interests of the people of Ibadanland.
To return to my earlier observation at the beginning of this piece, the reason why many core Ibadan indigenes, especially market men and women, artisans and a host of others, could not see the difference between Ladoja as governor and Ladoja as Olubadan is justified by the level of landmark development that His Imperial Majesty has attracted to Ibadanland within a short span of one year on the throne. The average Ibadan person, especially those in the grassroots, believes in the enormity of Ladoja’s power and influence. There is no doubt that the status and influence of Ladoja reflect a combination of both political and traditional authority, chiefly because Olubadan Ladoja, Arusa I, was and is not a man of small repute. He is what the Yoruba will call “atọba télè ko tó joba.”
Kabiyesi, as you celebrate the anniversary prudently and gratefully in the house of your Creator, Kaabah in Makkah, I pray that God Almighty will grant you long life in good health so that you will continue to serve your people, who always count on your support for their wellbeing. May God increase your faith, guide you and continue to protect you. Amen.
I wish you a happy 82nd birthday and a joyous first coronation anniversary.
Bon anniversaire, Votre Excellence, Oba (Sen.) Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, Olubadan of Ibadanland.
