Olubadan Ladoja Elevates Five High Chiefs, Calls for Global Religious Harmony During PFN Delegation Visit

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa I), today, Friday, November 7, 2025, performed his first major official traditional function since his coronation by elevating five High Chiefs on the Otun Olubadan line. The landmark ceremony, held at the Olubadan palace in Oke-Aremo, solidified the traditional hierarchy and paved the way for the upward movement of chiefs on the civil line.

The elevations, carried out in strict accordance with the Ibadan Chieftaincy Law, were necessitated by the vacancy created when Oba Ladoja, formerly the Otun Olubadan, ascended the stool as the 44th Olubadan in September.

Among those promoted were Oba Eddy Oyewole-Foko, who rose from Osi Olubadan to the position of Otun Olubadan (the second-highest position in the civil line), and Oba Kola-Daisi, who was promoted from Asipa Olubadan to Osi Olubadan. The promotions ensure the seamless progression that is a hallmark of Ibadan’s unique succession system.

A Call for Global Religious Harmony

Prior to the elevation ceremony, the Olubadan received a delegation from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), led by its President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke. This visit provided a platform for the monarch to address pressing national and global issues, particularly religious tolerance and security.

Oba Ladoja used the occasion to call upon all religious adherents worldwide to ensure peaceful coexistence, irrespective of their background. Addressing the ongoing security challenges and the narrative of religious persecution, the Olubadan acknowledged the reality of insecurity but insisted that it affects all religious sects, warning that it should “neither be allowed to divide us nor be allowed to result to war.”

The monarch also sent a direct plea to the leadership of the country, advising President Bola Tinubu and world political leaders to cooperate and prioritize peaceful coexistence as their cardinal principle. He urged the President to intensify efforts to reduce, if not totally eradicate, the incidents of killings, kidnapping, and other vices plaguing the nation.

The dual events highlight Oba Ladoja’s commitment to both upholding the ancient traditions of Ibadanland and using the influence of the revered stool to advocate for peace and stability within the nation.