PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad, Emirs of Kano, Dr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, among others, are expected to be in attendance at the coronation ceremony of Senator Rasidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday.
Confirming Tinubu’s attendance, Chief Adeola Oloko, media aide to Ladoja confirmed that the President personally assured the Olubadan-designate of his presence during a telephone conversation.
“Tinubu and Ladoja were members of the National Assembly in the defunct Second Republic. Ladoja then represented Oyo South, while Tinubu represented Lagos West,” Oloko explained.
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The event will also attract former governors and political associates of the new monarch, including Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Mr. Ayo Fayose, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as well as several serving governors across the country.
Residents of Ibadan have described the coronation as historic, noting that the awareness campaign across the city is unlike anything seen before. Billboards, banners, and posters announcing the ceremony have taken over strategic locations, reflecting wide acceptance of Ladoja’s nomination.
The coronation week, which began on Monday with interdenominational prayers, will climax on Friday with the presentation of the Staff of Office, the wearing of the crown, and other cultural festivities.
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Meanwhile, in line with tradition, Oba Ladoja has been barred from receiving visitors since Monday to allow traditional rites to proceed without disruption.
The coronation of Senator Ladoja, a respected politician and former governor of Oyo State, is already being hailed as a defining moment in the history of Ibadanland.