From Modupe Bankole
Ibadan, the ancient city renowned for its orderly and time tested chieftaincy system, witnessed yet another milestone as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, presided over the promotion of four High Chiefs in the Otun line , an event that seamlessly blended tradition with a call for national unity and peace.
Speaking during the ceremony at his Oke Aremo palace today, Oba Ladoja urged Nigerians to shun divisive tendencies and embrace unity in the face of the nation’s growing security challenges. The monarch, who addressed the President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, emphasizing that terrorism and banditry recognize neither faith nor ethnicity, lamenting that Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers alike have all been victims of violence.
The ceremony, which reinforced the continuity of Ibadan’s unique succession hierarchy, saw the Ibadan Traditional Council ratify the elevation of four High Chiefs who have fulfilled all traditional and hierarchical requirements.
The Alakinyele of Akinyele, Oba Dr. James Odeniran, described the exercise as a reaffirmation of Ibadan’s disciplined leadership structure, explaining that chieftaincy titles are not mere decorations but responsibilities of service and community representation.
In her remarks, former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande, wife of one of the newly promoted chiefs, described the day as one of gratitude and pride for Ibadanland. She commended the Olubadan-in-Council for preserving the integrity of the traditional system and inspiring renewed dedication to public good.
Oba Ladoja congratulated the newly elevated High Chiefs, urging them to remain humble, loyal, and exemplary in upholding the values of Ibadanland. He reaffirmed his commitment to peace, unity, and the progress of the city, describing the smooth conduct of the event as proof of harmony within Ibadan’s traditional institution.
