Olubadan Ladoja: Here Comes The King!
By Akeeb Alarape
Dateline: 10th June 2019. It was a sunny day. We were at the dining table, chatting over a meal of Amala and Abula, his best food, as lunch. The door at his back slid open. He wasn’t expecting any visitor and none of his security details had come in to inform him of any impending visitor. A young man walked in briskly, cladded in a parliamentary gown and a wig. Baba was jolted seeing the unexpected visitor.
Before he could uttered anything, the young man had laid flat on the floor. Baba, surprised and amused looked at him and said ‘Haa! You didn’t even announce your coming and no one informed me of your arrival. The guy smiled and said: ‘My orderly told me to stay in the vehicle so that he can come in and inform you and do security screening but I told him this is my father’s house.
Baba responded with a chagrin smile and shouted: Mr. Speaker!!! But you should have put off your gown and the wig before coming here.”
The excited guy replied: ‘This is how I want it, Sir. You made it possible, Sir.”
Baba smiled and look at my direction: ‘Today, my belief in destiny is once again reinforced.”
He narrated how he met the young guy few months back in one of his farms with one of his children. He said he fondled with his heavy beard and jokingly called him a Taliban while advising him to trim the beard. One thing led to the other and his son told him of their plan to visit him at home to discuss his friend’s intention to join politics.
I told them they were lucky since I was with them they can discuss with him. He said the two young guys initially refused to seize the opportunity describing it as an affront. After much persuasion, he said they opened up and had a father-sons discussion.
Few months after that meeting, the member representing Ibarapa in the state House of Assembly died and the young Debo Ogundoyin was fielded by Accord party in the by-election to fill the vacant seat of Ibarapa.
They guy emerged victorious and served in the second tenure of late Governor Abiola Ajimobi. He was reelected and subsequently became the Speaker of the House under Governor Seyi Makinde.
As he was reeling out the short political journey of the lucky lawmaker, his mother and siblings joined us in the sitting room. They were apparently in high mood. But their mood was to change when Baba faced them and said: “Please, am begging you all, don’t mount undue pressure on this boy. You can see that he is still young. He needs your support not pressure. Help him to succeed.”
It wasn’t know if Hon. Ogundoyin got a prediction of his politics and subsequent speakership of the state House of Assembly. But Ladoja had of his Obaship stature. According to him, an Islamic cleric had told his parents at his birth that they had blessed with a future king.
“For good one month every resident of Gambari Village and adjoining ones were bring gifts for my parents,”
Evidently, the prediction of the cleric brought the middle name of today’s Olubadan: Adewolu.
In many facets of life he had found himself, be it business, politics and traditional institution or family matters, he never left anyone in doubt that he is a born leader.and one with the onerous duty to lead by example and encourage others to follow the path of integrity and honour.
He adapt to situation or environment he finds himself with ease. If you are with him in his farm, you will hardly believe he had the opportunity to enter the four walls of the classroom not to talk of being a Petrochemical Engineer. If he is talking or lecturing you on business ideas, you will find it difficult to fault his professorial talent.
He mingles with the poorest of the poor and commands respect from the high and the mighty. Not just because of his wealth but more of his talent, character, moral disposition and selflessness on issues.
One particular trait about Kaabieesi Ladoja is that he hardly display his wealth. He distastes waste and flamboyancy. No matter your status, Oba Ladoja will not spare you serious reprimand if you waste food in his house.
He has done that to many highbrow individuals, who tried to show off while in his house. “You don’t waste food in my house. That’s why you were asked to serve yourself. Am I the one that served you? There are millions out there without food to eat. So, because you are in Ladoja’s house, you must waste food? No, I won’t take that.”
That’s the discipline Kaabieesi carries with him and instill in people. He practices what he preaches. He is humble to a fault and very considerate of others, especially the downtrodden. For over two decades of knowing him closely, I hardly see him displaying profligacy. He can eat like a pauper when occasions demand. And he gets a dose of his wealth as many times as he so desires, albeit moderately.
Kaabieesi also likes to pull surprises. He does things one can hardly expect of his status. Before the death of his mother, Alhaja Halimat Ladoja, Baba once passed the night at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of University College Hospital (UCH) watching over his ailing mother.
“The doctor asked me to go home that all is well. I told him I can’t. He continue saying; Your Excellency, there is no cause for alarm. Go home and sleep. I told him ‘No’. I can’t. I wouldn’t be ‘His Excellency’ if this woman didn’t bring me into this world.”
Another trait Oba Ladoja exhibits is his forgiven-spirit. He abhors grudges. He frees his mind from undue negativity. Despite the ignoble role his late former deputy, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala played in his illegal impeachment, he never staged any revenge mission. Few days aftermath of the 2011 election, he confided in me that he would be having a meeting with Akala in his house in Lagos.
“Am having a meeting with my Aburo in Lagos this evening.”
“Which of your Aburos, Sir?” I asked him.
“Bayo, of course,” he replied
I looked at him in askance. “Akala?, I asked
He replied: “Yes. He’s on his way to my house,” he said.
I told him if I was the one in his Lagos home, I won’t open the door for Alao-Akala.
He smiled and said: “Well, I have told them to open the door for him. Let him put his cards on the table and we play it,” that was his response.
On his failure to use executive power and or brute force to stall his illegal impeachment as governor, as many political pundits had accused him, he hinged his decision on his love for Ibadan as a city and her people.
“We have what we can use to thwart the illegal impeachment but my husband said he would not waste the lives of innocent people for his political ambition. He said none of his children would be at the forefront of the violence. They will only be killing innocent souls,” one of his wives had confided in me then.
During the brouhaha that greeted the elevation of Olubadan High Chiefs to beaded Kings during the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration and Oba Ladoja’s one-man ‘voice in the wilderness’ against the government’s action, I had expressed my fear of government coming after him. He responded and said: “Don’t do anything that will force you to compromise.” Seeing that I couldn’t comprehend him, he explained: If you have a criminal past or got contract from government and failed to deliver or you have a secret deal with someone, it’s easy for your opponent to dig out your file and fly it on your face. So, by the time they bring out a handcuff, you will offer your hand willingly. I have nothing they can use to blackmail me.”
This is the honour today’s Olubadan carries with him. Be it in business, politics, social dealings or traditional matters, he had paid his dues and has been ‘found worth in conduct and character.’
Kaabieesi ooo. May your reign be long!
AKEEB ALARAPE IS A JOURNALIST, AGRIBUSSINESS ENTERPRENEUR FROM IWO, OSUN STATE