Rashidi Ladoja was born on 25 September 1944 in Gambari village, near Ibadan. He attended Ibadan Boys’ High School (1958–1963) and Olivet Baptist High School (1964–1965). He proceeded to the University of Liège in Belgium (1966–1972), where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Ladoja began his professional career with Total Nigeria, an oil company, where he worked for 13 years in various roles before venturing into private business in 1985. His business interests span multiple sectors, including shipping, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and transportation.
He was elected to the Nigerian Senate in 1993 during the short-lived Third Republic. Later, he joined the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during General Sani Abacha’s political transition program. By 2000, Ladoja had become a director at Standard Trust Bank Limited.
In April 2003, Ladoja was elected Governor of Oyo State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and assumed office on 29 May 2003.
His governorship was initially backed by Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, a powerful PDP figure in the state. However, by August 2004, the alliance between the two men had broken down due to a fierce dispute over political appointments. The PDP leadership ultimately sided with Adedibu. In a 2005 interview, then PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, remarked that Ladoja should take instructions from Adedibu.
On 12 January 2006, Ladoja was impeached by the Oyo State House of Assembly and forced out of office. His deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, was sworn in as governor. However, on 1 November 2006, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan declared the impeachment illegal, pending confirmation by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld this decision on 11 November 2006, and Ladoja officially resumed office on 12 December 2006.
Although he failed to secure the PDP nomination for a second term, Ladoja remained an active political figure. He contested subsequent elections under different parties and eventually joined the Zenith Labour Party in 2019.
In 2015, within two weeks, the highest ranked Chiefs in both the Egbe Agba and Balogun lines, High Chief Sulaiman Omiyale and High Chief Omowale Kuye died. They were so close to becoming Olubadan
In August 2024, Ladoja embraced his role as Otun Olubadan, accepting the ceremonial beaded crown, now a requirement for ascending the Olubadan throne under the revised chieftaincy declaration.
Speaking on a private radio station in Ibadan at the time, he said:
“By the grace of God, I will become Olubadan. My blood pressure has been stable. Anyone God has destined to become Olubadan will become Olubadan.
Credit: Social Media
