Ladoja postpones return to Ibadan until end of Olubadan’s mourning

The Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has decided to remain outside Ibadan, Oyo State, until the completion of the 21-day mourning period for the late 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin. The mourning period, which began on Tuesday, July 8, will end around July 27 or 28.

Oba Olakulehin passed away on Monday, July 7, after a brief illness at a private hospital in Jericho, Ibadan. In keeping with Ibadanland’s longstanding tradition, the palace declared a period of mourning.

According to a palace source who spoke with The PUNCH, Oba Ladoja made the decision to avoid encouraging celebrations during this solemn period. The source explained, “Oba Ladoja believes it would be inappropriate for people to start rejoicing when the city should be mourning. He prefers to mourn first before celebrating.”

To ensure the palace remains open to visitors paying their respects, Oba Ladoja directed the Ekerin Olubadan, Oba Amidu Ajibade, and the Ekerin Balogun, Akeem Adewoyin, to reopen the Olubadan Palace at Oke-Aremo, which had been temporarily closed.

“He feels that being in Ibadan now might lead people to gather at his house to celebrate, which goes against his wish to honor the late Olubadan properly,” the source added. “He once rebuked those who rejoiced when the late 42nd Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, had not even been buried.”

When contacted, Oba Ladoja’s media aide, Adeola Oloko, declined to confirm the exact date of his return, simply stating, “I don’t know when Baba Ladoja will be around.”