Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has told the daughter of President Bola Tinubu and Iyaloja General, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, that the ‘Iyaloja’ concept is alien to Benin culture. The Oba spoke when Mrs Tinubu-Ojo visited him to inform him that she was in the state to inaugurate Pastor Josephine Ivbazebule as the Iyaloja of all markets in Edo State. The Benin monarch, having carefully listened to Tinubu-Ojo, asked her if she (Tinubu-Ojo) knew what Iyeki (market leader) in the Benin Kingdom means and the connection with the palace.
The Oba told the Iyaloja General that in the Benin Kingdom, the Iyeki must be confirmed by the palace after being selected by the market women.
Oba Ewuare II told Tinubu-Ojo that the Iyeki performs certain cultural roles on his behalf in the markets, outside her role of coordinating the affairs of traders in the market. He said the Iyeki has a special relationship with the palace and performs expected roles in the shrine located in every market.The Oba does not interfere so long as the Iyeki does what is expected of her in the shrine of a particular market on behalf of the Oba. We are not going to say much, except to explain to you the concept of Iyeki in Benin.”
Chief Osaro Idah, whom the Oba permitted to enlighten Tinubu-Ojo, also added: “Iyeki is independent in every market, like the Oba Market, Ogiso Market, and others. The traders select their leaders from within the market. The Iyeki do more than the role of coordinating traders. The novelty of a general Iyeki is alien to Benin custom and tradition. We just believe the Iyaloja is your socio-cultural thing, like you have other clubs.
“It is not in our culture to have a general Iyeki. Iyeki is particular to each market. No one has the right to control another in a different market. The Iyeki in Oba Market has no role to play in Ogiso Market. The Oba established the market for all in the society.”
The family of the late media mogul High Chief Raymond Anthony Aleogho Dokpesi has moved to block any sale or transfer of his assets, announcing that the entire estate is under probate and warning the public to shun purported transactions offered by persons claiming authority to dispose of the late broadcaster’s properties. In a public notice described as a “Public Notice / Caveat,” the Dokpesi family said the estate — which includes ownership interests in DAAR Investment & Holding Company Ltd., DAAR Communications PLC (owners of AIT and RayPower) and other corporate and private assets — has been frozen for sale, transfer, pledge or loan with effect from 29 May 2023, the date of Chief Dokpesi’s passing. The family said the freeze will remain until the lawful completion of probate.
The statement said the family had received “troubling reports of people pretending to have authority and offering estate assets for sale,” and cautioned that “any person, institution, or organization that has attempted, or may attempt, to purchase, acquire, transfer, or otherwise deal with any of these assets after 29 May 2023 does so entirely at their own risk and without recourse to the estate or the family.”
The announcement follows media reports and internal complaints that some buildings, lands and local stations associated with DAAR Communications have been sold or shut down amid apparent governance tensions at the company. Insiders and employees reported anxiety over the fate of certain properties, including references to sales affecting local stations such as the Asokoro outlet.
Family representatives told journalists they have held “extensive consultations” with legal counsel to protect the estate and intention to challenge any unlawful disposals in court. The notice was issued as a formal caveat to prevent further dealings with the estate until the probate process is concluded.
Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a pioneer of private broadcasting in Nigeria and the founder of DAAR Communications, died on 29 May 2023 at the age of 71. He built AIT and RayPower into some of the country’s most recognizable private media brands. His death and subsequent burial were widely reported in 2023.
Legal observers said the family’s public caveat is a standard mechanism to notify would-be buyers and third parties that the assets are subject to court supervision pending probate. Transactions concluded while an estate is under probate are often legally vulnerable, and prospective purchasers who proceed without confirmation risk losing their investment or facing protracted litigation. (Context: probate law ordinarily requires court validation of wills and appointment of executors or administrators before final distribution of assets.)
For shareholders, staff and creditors of DAAR Communications PLC, the development raises immediate governance and operational questions. Company insiders told reporters the family’s move is aimed at safeguarding shareholder value and preventing any fraudulent attempts to divest estate assets while the company’s leadership structure and stakeholdings remain unsettled.
The Dokpesi family closed the notice with an appeal to Nigerians and the international community: the legacy of High Chief Raymond Dokpesi “is not up for grabs.” They urged institutions and private individuals to verify any claim of authority over the estate with the probate court or through the family’s legal representatives before engaging in transactions. The family also warned that unauthorized dealings will be vigorously challenged.
In this report, Sunday Ehigiator examines how the journey from ‘Watchdog to Target’ defines the ordeal of veteran journalist Azuka Ogujiuba, whose recent experience has reignited fears over Nigeria’s shrinking press freedom; as what began as a professional duty to inform the public about a subsisting court order quickly descended into an episode of police intimidation, arrest, and detention.
When Azuka Ogujiuba, a well-known journalist with nearly three decades in the industry, received a routine police invitation in July 2025, she thought it would be a matter easily resolved with her lawyers present.
What followed, however, was a chain of events she describes as “a nightmare.”; one that has raised troubling questions about police impartiality, press freedom, and the power of money in Nigeria’s justice system.
Ogujiuba, a contributor to THISDAY and founder of Media Room Hub, says her “crime” was publishing a buyer-beware notice on Instagram concerning a parcel of land at Hampton Estate, Osapa, Lagos.
According to her, the cautionary post was based on a court order, a public document, that restrained Oretol Nigeria Limited and its alter ego, businessman Mr Adewale Oladapo, from selling or dealing in the land pending a suit brought by Capital Garden Limited.
But rather than acknowledge the publication as lawful, she alleges, the police acted on a petition filed against her by Mr Oladapo’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Muiz Banire, SAN, accusing her of defamation.
Who is Azuka Ogujiuba
To understand the weight of this case, one must first understand the woman at its centre.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Azuka Ogujiuba entered journalism in the 1990s, cutting her teeth on human-interest stories before becoming known for her bold society reporting. Over time, she carved a reputation as both fearless and meticulous; a journalist who combined a keen eye for detail with an instinct for stories that matter.
Her career, spanning close to 30 years, has been without scandal or disciplinary blemish. She has interviewed presidents, profiled business moguls, and built relationships across industries. In 2016, she founded Media Room Hub, which quickly became a trusted source for entertainment, lifestyle, and social commentary.
“She is not a fly-by-night blogger,” said one of her colleagues in the industry, Ayodeji Ake. “Azuka has paid her dues. If you say journalism in Nigeria, her name must come up. She’s a professional to the core.”
So when, in March 2025, she published a notice about a disputed land deal, it was not an unusual act. It was a fulfilment of her journalistic and civic duty, and more importantly, a direct compliance with a court order.
The Land at the Heart of the Dispute
Court documents reveal the roots of the conflict. In 2020, Capital Garden Limited purchased several hectares of land at Hampton Estate, Osapa, Lagos, from Oretol Nigeria Limited and Mr Oladapo for ₦5.3 billion. The transaction was formalised with a deed of sublease and a survey plan.
But years later, Capital Garden accused Oretol Nigeria of attempting to resell the same property to new buyers. In March 2025, Justice E.O. Ashade of the Lagos High Court granted an interim injunction, restraining Oretol and Oladapo from marketing or selling the land until the substantive case was determined.
The court also directed that the public be notified of the restraining order. Hence, Ogujiuba and other media outlets published buyer-beware notices to warn potential investors.
An Invitation Turned Ordeal
On July 8, 2025, Ogujiuba, while speaking with THISDAY, said, “On July 8, 2025, I received a WhatsApp message from one Josphine Ometere, who identified herself as a police officer from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). She forwarded an invitation to me requiring my appearance for an interview at their Abuja office on July 22, 2025.
“The said date was inconvenient. I informed my lawyer, who wrote back to reschedule the appointment for August 6, 2025.
“On the said August 6, 2025, I honoured the invite in the company of my lawyers and was interrogated by a police woman called lfy Ogoli. I was informed that the petition against me stemmed from my publication of the ruling of the High Court of Lagos State, which directed that the pendency of a suit before it be published to prevent unsuspecting members of the public from purchasing the subject matter of the dispute before the Court.
“Ify Ogoli informed me that the petition was written by one Mr Muiz Banire, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, for his client, Mr Adewale Oladapo.
“My publication on Instagram that prompted the petition against me stemmed from my justified report of the order of the High Court of Lagos State, (Coram Honourable Justice E.O. Ashade), sitting at the Yaba Judicial Division in Suit No. LD/9195GCMW/2025 between Capital Garden Limited v. Oretol Nigeria Limited & Adewale Oladapo.
“The suit filed by Capital Garden Limited as Plaintiffs arose on its purchase of some hectares of land being at Hampton Estate, Osapa, Lagos, from the Defendants, Oretol Nigeria Limited and Adewale Oladapo, sometime in 2020 and for which the agreed purchase price of N5.3 billion was fully paid and receipt acknowledged by Oretol Nigeria Limited and Mr Adewale Oladapo in several correspondences. The sale of the parcel of land to Capital Garden Limited was documented in a duly executed Deed of Sublease and a Survey plan.
“Surprisingly however, Oretol Nigeria Limited having utilized the purchase price for about half a decade to sand fill several parcels of the land, has now with a volte face sought to sell the parcel of land to supposed ‘New Takers’ and generally unsuspecting members of the public to raise funds with which the Defendants, Oretol Nigeria Limited and Adewale Oladapo intend to refund Capital Garden Limited.
“To this end, the Claimant, as Applicant, filed a motion seeking several interim reliefs from the High Court of Lagos State. The motion was granted on March 25, 2025 and orders made restraining Oretol Nigeria Limited, its alter ego, agents, privies, assigns, associates, nominees or any special officers or other persons(s) howsoever described and called from entering, trespassing, using or dealing with all that parcel of land measuring approximately 4 Hectares situate and being at Hampton Estate (Also known as Eletu Odibo Island) Osapa, Lagos State pending the filing of the substantive suit, and hearing/determination of any Motion on Notice for interlocutory Injunction.
“By the said Order of Court made on March 25, 2025, Oretol Nigeria Limited, its Director- Adewale Oladapo, its agent, privies, agents, any person or agency acting through the Defendants were restrained from marketing, attempting to sell and or selling, transferring, alienating or assigning the subject parcel of land {subject of litigation} to any third party pending the filing of the substantive suit, and hearing/determination of any Motion on Notice for interlocutory Injunction.
“Also, a further Order was made directing the Claimant to notify the general public of the restraining orders of Court on the Defendants vide Media/Newspaper, alerting the unsuspecting general public/potential buyers of the Defendants’ conduct and discouraging third parties from engaging with the Defendants regarding all that parcel of land measuring approximately 4 hectares situate at Hampton Estate, Osapa, Lagos.
“It was pursuant to the above highlighted Court orders (which is a public document) and the truth of what transpired in the Court that I, Azuka Ogujiuba, the owner of Media Room Hub and indeed other media houses, published a caution to the public in form of ‘Buyer Beware’ notices in line with the Court order to notify the general public of the pending litigation, the restraining orders made by Honourable Justice Ashade of the High Court of Lagos State and to advise the public as directed by the Court against dealing with the subject property whether by way of lease, purchase or from carrying on any construction work thereon pending the determination of the pending suit.”
From Journalism to Cell
Despite her explanation and submission of the court order, Ogujiuba alleged that police investigators insisted she retract her post and tender an apology to Mr Oladapo.
“They told me point-blank that Mr Oladapo had ordered my humiliation and that I would not be released until I complied,” she alleges. Although she was initially granted bail on August 6, events took a darker turn two days later.
On August 8, she was rearrested in what she described as “Gestapo style” and detained for three days at Asokoro Police Station. According to her, “I was tracked down to where I was carrying out my official assignment through my GPS like a common criminal, embarrassed and abducted in the presence of my interviewee, and other well-meaning Nigerians present.”
During her detention, she says she was denied access to her lawyers, coerced into deleting her Instagram posts, and forced to sign an apology under duress.
“I was dehumanised, intimidated, and harassed into submission,” she said. “The police went beyond their legal powers and acted like enforcers for a private businessman.”
The Paradox of Unanswered Police Invitations
In a twist of irony, Ogujiuba points out that while she was swiftly arrested and detained for honouring a police invitation, Mr Oladapo has allegedly failed to honour a police summons over petitions against him.
According to her, “I would ordinarily expect that Mr Adewale Oladapo, who knows how to use the instrumentality of the law, by instructing his lawyer, Mr Muiz Banire, SAN, to write a petition against me to the Nigeria Police Force, leading to my arrest and detention, should himself honour the outstanding police invitation extended to him.
“From my findings, I am aware that Capital Gardens Limited and its alter ego, Dr Kennedy Okonkwo, had caused a petition to be written by their lawyer to the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), which petition was referred to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and assigned to the X squad for investigation.
“The petition bothered on Fraudulent Conversion of Property, Obtaining by False Pretense, and Multiple Fraudulent Alienations in respect of 4 Hectares of land at Hampton Island Estate, 1.5 hectares of land at Hampton Habour, 8,000SQM of land at Hampton Bay and 1,000 SQM of land at Banana Island for which the sums of N3.5 Billion, N1.8 Billion, N800 Million, and N783 Million Naira respectively were paid to and received/duly acknowledged by Mr. Adewale Oladapo and his company Oretol Nigeria Limited.
“In the course of their investigation, the X squad of the Lagos State Police Command invited Mr Adewale Oladapo to come and answer to the allegations against him, and he has since refused to honour the police invitation, claiming to have travelled out of Nigeria.
“Whereas, the said Adewale Oladapo has been seen attending parties in Abuja while refusing to honour a police investigation in a petition against him, just the way I did as a responsible citizen.
“In the circumstance, the question that begs for an answer is whether Mr Adewale Oladapo is above the law, untouchable, too big to honour a police invite to answer to allegations of crimes against him and his company or operates under a different set of laws from ordinary Nigerians.
“The answers to the above posers will be seen in the coming days or weeks as Nigerians are urged to keenly watch developments in the petition against Mr. Adewale Oladapo and his company to see whether the Nigeria Police Force will act as swiftly as they did to arrest and detain me even when I had voluntarily honoured their invitation and was granted bail, or they will continue to sit and watch as a suspect against whom criminal allegations bothering on huge sums of money has been made, and who has refused to honour a police invitation is allowed to roam the country with a retinue of policemen attached to him while refusing to honour a police invitation over allegations of crime against him.”
A Bigger Problem
Ogujiuba’s ordeal underscores two long-standing issues in Nigeria: land-related fraud and the misuse of police powers.
Property disputes, especially in Lagos, have often been marred by allegations of “multiple sales” and fraudulent conveyancing. Experts say such disputes thrive because of weak enforcement of court orders and collusion between influential businessmen and corrupt elements in law enforcement.
Equally troubling is the recurring pattern of journalists and whistleblowers facing police intimidation for doing their jobs. Press freedom advocates note that the Constitution guarantees the right to free expression and the duty of the press to hold power accountable.
“What happened to Azuka is not just her story,” a senior journalist who asked not to be named said. “It’s a warning shot to the entire media industry that powerful individuals can deploy state institutions to silence inconvenient truths.”
Journalism on Trial
Beyond the personal ordeal of Ogujiuba also lies a larger concern about journalism practice in Nigeria. The country has a troubling record on press freedom. According to Reporters Without Borders, Nigeria ranks poorly on the World Press Freedom Index, with frequent cases of journalists facing harassment, arrest, and violence.
In 2016, journalist Jones Abiri was detained for two years without trial. In 2019, Agba Jalingo was arrested and charged with treason for reporting on corruption. Even more recently, reporters covering a fire disaster on Lagos Island, Nigeria, were harassed right on live camera, just to mention a few incidents.
Ogujiuba’s case fits into this pattern. By allegedly criminalising a lawful publication, going further to arrest and detain the reporter for three days, while allegedly coercing her to delete the said publication, the police have sent a clear written message: that journalists can be punished not only for falsehoods, but also for truths that inconvenience the powerful.
A System Tilted Against the Weak?
For Ogujiuba, the ordeal has left her with more questions than answers. “Why would a SAN file a petition against me for publishing a court order? Why did the police insist on an apology to a private citizen as a condition for my release? Why does one man seem untouchable while the law is weaponised against journalists?”
Her experience, she argues, earmarks a double standard in Nigeria’s justice system; one where it’s believed in public parlance that wealth and connections often tilt the scales.
Efforts to obtain Mr Adewale Oladapo’s reaction to the allegations proved abortive. He neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to him before press time.
Ogujiuba’s ordeal raises pressing questions about accountability, both for the police and for businessmen who appear shielded by influence. “Today, it’s me,” she said. “Tomorrow, it could be any journalist who dares to report the truth.”
For now, the case has become more than a personal battle. It is a test of whether Nigeria’s justice system can truly protect the weak from the strong, the citizen from the state, and the truth from being silenced.
We don’t all sleep and face the same direction, so the Yoruba say in one of their popular proverbial offerings. In the last week, however, happenings in Ibadan, Oyo State, have defied that saying. The city of Ibadan had risen in unison to support the ascension of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, to the throne of his forbears. That’s something Western-style democracy cannot offer any territory because deliberate opposition is an innate part of that democracy. But Ibadan has shown that Yoruba, even African democracy, can readily offer unity of purpose in abundance.
In the one week preceding the coronation of Oba Ladoja, the city was seized from different locations by activities lined up to usher the king to the throne. Residents readily welcomed the events and bore the discomfort to traffic flow with equanimity. There were processions that dislocated market settings and other crowd-pulling activities around the city, but no one uttered a word of displeasure despite the fact that the people of Ibadan are strangers to huge traffic. On the streets of Ibadan on Thursday, youths and old people thronged the very busy Secretariat Road, after they had gone to pay homage to Oba Ladoja at his Ondo Street home in Bodija. Movement of traffic was stalled on both sides of the road, but residents donning broad smiles waved at one another as they backslapped profusely in celebration of the mood of the moment. They were all giving honour to the man, whom they believed truly deserved their praise and support. A man who was bound to mount the throne as Olubadan of Ibadanland from September 26. It was a strange find in a city that is known for its rustiness and slow-paced anger, but like a viper, it promptly releases venom of death once its tail is bruised. All the effusive joy can only be traceable to the fact that the new monarch is well accepted by every stratum of the city. The people were happy indeed for Oba Ladoja. What we saw in Ibadan last week had played out over the years in that city each time a popular king emerged on the throne. It was a true picture of the Ibadan (Yoruba) democracy, which got largely truncated by the colonialists who took over most of the structures of political power in Africa upon the seizure of African territories. What the remainder of Ibadan democracy tells us is that, were it not for the colonialists who hurried Africans out of the defined political system set up by their forebears, the people of this continent were truly capable of establishing sophisticated systems that could stand the test of time. The defunct Oyo Empire was an example of the unique rulership system that the Yorubas were capable of engineering. The Ibadan chieftaincy system is an offshoot of the Yoruba political system, which got overrun by colonialism. The Benin Kingdom had equally fashioned a political system that withstood the vicissitudes for centuries, just as many kingdoms across the space we call Nigeria today and even across Africa.
It is not only strange to see the whole town sleeping and facing the same direction in a Western-style democracy, but the acrimonies that often erupt during electioneering campaigns are such that they breed relentless antagonism and unending enmity. Opposition is a Siamese of the colonial legacy of democracy and the way it is practiced in Nigeria, deception, crude opposition, sycophancy, and all that, less edify the Omoluabi ethos that should be firmly rooted therein.
The coronation of Oba Ladoja cannot come at a better time than now. Especially on the heels of introspection on African democratic development by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Ghana, two weeks ago. At the programme, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, and Ghanaian leader, John Dramani Mahama, declared that democracy was failing in Africa, with Obasanjo declaring that Western-style democracy demands a review in Africa. The frustrations of these leaders were not unfounded. Jonathan had seen opposition rail against him, even when he continued to exhibit his usual gentlemanly nature. He said that the greatest threat to African democracy was self-perpetuating antics of the leaders, adding that any leader who fails to deliver democracy dividends should be voted out through proper elections.
Jonathan said: “Democracy in the African continent is going through a period of strain and risk of collapse unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedom. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want a good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
In his speech on the all-important subject, the President of Ghana, Mahama, told the gathering that democracy would not survive unless Africans actively worked to protect and strengthen it. He also spoke about weak institutions, elite capture, exclusion, leadership deficits, and external interference, which he said erodes citizens’ trust, adding that: “Democracy will not survive if we don’t work for it. We need a reset of democracy and governance to ensure accountability. Anybody who wants to serve must be accountable to the people. Our citizens are tired of corruption, misgovernance, and lack of opportunities.
“To renew democracy, we must strengthen institutions, deliver development, and educate our citizens. We must protect the media and civic space. A free press is democracy’s immune system. Democracy dies when citizens lose faith, when leaders abandon integrity, and when institutions succumb to capture. But democracy can be renewed when citizens rise to defend it.”
Former President Obasanjo, who has been outspoken about the failings of democracy on the African continent, again submitted that democracy could collapse in Africa if it is not subjected to urgent reforms.
According to him, the way and manner Africans practice democracy is not sustainable without reforms. He said that despite the original conception of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” the practice had drifted from the vision to encompass all the ills noted by Mahatma above.
He said: “Democracy dies because democracy has refused to be reformed. Three aspects of democracy cannot continue to exist the way it was as defined by the American president: government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In that definition, democracy is meant to be for all people. And if democracy will not die and be buried, democracy must be reformed in context, in content, and in practice.”
He said that the travails of democracy in Africa are likened to a Yoruba proverb, which translates to “the insect that is killing the vegetable lives with the vegetable,” adding that democracy was being destroyed by its practitioners.
Obasanjo submitted further: “The thing that is killing democracy and will kill it is the practice of democracy,” and added that: “All the essentials that should be part and parcel of democracy are being ignored or bastardised in such a way that democracy has failed to deliver. And democracy cannot deliver unless it is reformed. If it is not reformed, it will not only fail, it will die and be buried.”
He, however, submitted that there appears to be no alternative to democracy despite its inadequacies, adding that reforms were needed to redeem the system of government. He asked: “Is there any real substitute for democracy as it was originally designed, government of the people, all the people. What we have now is a government of some people, by some people, over all the people?”
To Obasanjo, the identification of democracy as a government of the majority is also a misnomer because that marginalises and relegates the minorities.
Obasanjo queried again: “And they talk of a government of democracy as a government of the majority. If you talk of the government of the majority, what do you do with the minority? Then the minority is not part of the people?”
Yes, history has shown that monarchies, no matter how popular at the start, could breed totalitarianism and despotism, but the widespread acceptance of a monarch creates a ready room for responsibility by the subjects (citizens). Such ready-made acceptance of responsibility was on display during the coronation process of Oba Ladoja. We had reports indicating that several Ibadan indigenes did not wait for the government to provide funds for different activities. Many readily dipped their hands into their pockets to support the weeklong programmes. What this does is to create a sense of belonging in the citizen and then readiness to contribute to the well-being of the state.
That is not the same in the democracy that we practice. A key issue with our democracy, especially in the Fourth Nigerian Republic, is the lack of readiness of the citizens to take responsibility for their government. People elect governors and leave the actors to do as they like, despite constitutional provisions of checks and balances. Citizens stay indoors during elections, resigning to fate that their vote may not count or that their votes would not necessarily guarantee good governance, because “all politicians are the same.” The people have failed to realise that a man who refused to vote during the election has empowered bad governance because those who vote rightly or wrongly would determine his fate. Since Africa lost the opportunity to build a home-grown democracy through colonialism, what is left is to listen to Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Mahama-reform your democratic practice, reform the minds of the citizens, and get democracy working for the people.
It is a great feeling that Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja on Friday September 26, 2025, is going to be formally crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan. His Imperial Majesty has been part of the Ibadan story for many decades. By Ibadan standard, he just a young man of 81; still full of vigour and stamina. He would be the first former governor in Yorubaland to become an oba. His kingship is foretold, yet it fills us with so much new expectations. He is a modern monarch that would preside over an old metropolis, deep in lores and intricate in romantic pageantry. This is Ibadan, now the city of Ladoja, that must recover its old muscle and relevance.
Governor Seyi Makinde has done well by helping to uphold the tradition of Ibadan for seamless transition from one reign to another. He has the enviable record of being the one presenting the staffs of office to the three most prominent traditional rulers in Oyo State; the Alaafin, the Soun and now the Olubadan. His position emphasises the superiority of the New Order over the traditional institutions we inherited from our ancestors.
I first met Oba Ladoja in 1998 when he was one of the men being considered for the governorship of Oyo State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The governorship was won by Alhaji Lam Adesina, an old teacher and former member of the House of Representatives. Ladoja was to return in 2003 when he won the governorship of Oyo State on the ticket of the PDP. His victory also came with the full Ibadan package of turbulence and political melodramas. When in 2004 TELL magazine organised a three-day workshop for local government chairmen at the De Rovan Hotel in Ibadan, Ladoja gave the opening address. He was represented in the subsequent sessions by his deputy, Otunba Alao Akala. In 2004. he invited me to his 60th birthday in Ibadan where Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was also at the centre of the celebrations. Many of the forces that helped him to power, including President Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Lamidi Adedibu, were conspicuously absent. It was apparent at that celebrations that Ladoja’s governorship had entered turbulence. There is an apocryphal story about that days of struggle. Baba Adedibu was asked to come to Aso Rock Presidential Villa with the Governor of Oyo State. He went with Ladoja. On sighting Ladoja with Adedibu, President Obasanjo was reported to have said: “Baba, I asked you to come with the Governor of Oyo State, not with Ladoja! His era has passed!”
Now the Ladoja Era has dawned in Ibadan. The city has changed dramatically in the last 200 years and it has become the most politically consequential megalopolis in Yorubaland. It was in this city that Ladoja was born on September 25, 1944 and from there he rose to represent Ibadan in the Senate during the short-lived Third Republic. One of his colleagues in the Senate then, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is now the President of the Republic. His long stay in public service has earned him a reputation for resilience and unsinkability. He is subtle and almost self-effacing, yet he is a politician of considerable eloquence and personal charisma. He is deep.
Ibadan is a living testament to the ingenuity and statesmanship of our ancestors, especially following the turbulence and demographic shifts that occurred following the collapse of the old Oyo Empire. At the beginning of the 19th Century, Ibadan was a small Egba settlement. Then, Lagelu, an Ife prince and general, flushed with victory from the Owu campaign, moved to Ibadan to establish his own kingdom. In his entourage where soldiers from different states who had participated in the Owu campaign. The largest groups were the Ifes and the Oyos. They drove away the Egbas (who had backed Owu during the war) who then moved west to establish a new town called Odo Ona. But Lagelu was soon accused of tyranny and the Oyo veterans, who were many among his troops, staged a coup, executed Lagelu, and installed Oluyole, a young commander and descendant of the illustrious Alaafin Abiodun, as the new ruler. Oluyole was to set the tone for what Ibadan is till today.
At the time Oluyole became the ruler of Ibadan, the old Oyo Empire had collapsed, and the Oyo nobles had succeeded in installing a new Alaafin in exile at a settlement called Ago Oja. The new Alaafin, Atiba, also a descendant of Abiodun, was a man gifted with wisdom and statesmanship. He was able to persuade Oluyole to accept Alaafin as his nominal sovereign (the ruler of Ibadan, having not received his crown from Ile-Ife could not be an independent state under the old Constitution and could only be a Baale). Oluyole did not like the title of Baale and he took the title of Bashorun. Oluyole promised to help Alaafin recover his old capital, Oyo City, which was lost during war against Ilorin, an Oyo town, which had now been seized by Fulani Islamists and renegade Oyo partisans.
But after the death of Atiba, the Ibadan did not keep their promise. Instead, they were intent of creating their own empire. But they stood by their pledge to ensure that Atiba’s son, Adelu, who held the title of Aremo when his father was alive, succeeded him. This was against the Constitution of the old country which forbade primogeniture, but instead prescribed that the Aremo, once his father dies, must go home and commit ritual suicide. This was what the Are Ona Kakanfo, Kurumi of Ijaye, insisted on. Ibadan opposed him and Oluyole led his army into war against the legendary Kurumi who was eventually defeated and his city, Ijaye, destroyed.
Then the Ibadan proceeded to violate the old Constitution prescribed by the Ancient Ones of Ile-Ife that no Yoruba state must enslave another and that each prince of Oduduwa was co-eval and independent. Ibadan moved its armies to create an empire across Yorubaland, riding roughshod over brother states and creating chaos, even sometimes worse than those visited on the country by the bearded Ilorin soldiery.
The impact of the 16 years Ekitiparapo (Kiriji War) is still with us today. One significant event of that era was the decisive battle of Osogbo in 1847 when the Ibadan army, under the command of Balogun Oderinlo, defeated the Ilorin forces, thereby stemming the tide of forceful Fulanisation of the country. On the pretence that they have come to make peace, British imperialists, who had seized Lagos in 1864, turned the entire Yoruba country into part of the British empire at the dawn of the 20th Century. At the time of the armistice of 1886, there were more than 500,000 Yoruba soldiers under arm, yet the entire country was occupied by less than 2000 British soldiers and members of the Hausa Constabulary recruited from Lagos. Thus, Yorubaland became part of the world-wide British Empire and ultimately the new Nigerian state.
The imperative of history imposes on leaders, new responsibilities and evident challenges. Oba Ladoja is coming to the throne fully prepared. For several decades, he has been part of the power dynamics of Ibadan and Nigeria, witnessing its transformation from being the political capital of the West to becoming the capital of just Oyo State. He had been a Senator and later the Governor. He is fabulously wealthy and well-connected. Unlike those who were newly imported into the job, he is a grassroot man who understands the intricate sinews of Ibadan and has the skill to manage its unpredictable temper. After a lifetime of preparations, he is ready to do the job that would keep him busy for the rest of his life. Congratulations Kabiyesi. The Ladoja Era has begun. May your reign be long and glorious!
Oskar Eyovbirere Ibru, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the legendary Ibru Organisation, is dead. Oskar was the eldest son of Michael Ibru, founder of the Organisation. Born on August 11, 1958, the Nigerian billionaire businessman and investor was popular in Nigerian social circle. A family source said the 67-year-old philanthropist died after a brief illness. Oskar was married to Chief Wanda Ibru, curator of the Ijebu national museum and owner of the pathways botanical gardens. They had three children: Makashe Ibru-Awogboro, Chris Ibru and Nenesi Ibru-Okeke
He was the first African Commodore of the Apapa Boat Club, and was the 2006 Maritime Personality of the year. The Otunba Boyejo of Ijebu Kingdom was conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Igbinedion University in 2017.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended his warm wishes to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as she marks her 65th birthday on Sunday.
He described Senator Tinubu as a compassionate and strong-willed individual who has been a pillar of support to President Bola Tinubu through the Renewed Hope Initiative, which has impacted millions of Nigerians positively.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a congratulatory message issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said Lagos is proud to celebrate Senator Tinubu at 65 following her dedicated service to Lagos State as First Lady and member of the Senate for 12 years.
He said Nigeria’s First Lady’s selfless dedication to public service has continued to shine since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, noting that she has used her office to impact the lives of many Nigerians, especially women.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who praised the First Lady for her tireless efforts in addressing the needs of women and children through various empowerment programmes and projects, said the Renewed Hope Initiative, which she championed, has provided relief and support to families across the country.
He said: “On behalf of my adorable wife, Ibijoke, the government and the entire people of Lagos State, I heartily congratulate Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady and the wife of our leader and President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of her 65th birthday.
“Senator Oluremi Tinubu is a great ambassador of our dear State. She has served the State passionately as First Lady for eight years and as a member of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly for three consecutive terms without any blemish.
“We are proud of her achievements in both private and public offices. Her contributions to the development of both Lagos and Nigeria are commendable. We celebrate Senator Oluremi Tinubu today and always for her kindness, advocacy for social justice, and philanthropic endeavours.
“As our Amazon, Senator Oluremi Tinubu turns 65, I pray for God’s continued guidance and good health for her. God will give her more strength and grace to render more service to humanity and our dear country, Nigeria.”
In line with its commitments of promoting sports and developmental initiatives at all levels, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is partnering the organizers of the first of its kind E1 Lagos GP an all-electric powerboat racing championship, set to hold between the 3rd and 5th of October 2025. Disclosing this at the E1 Lagos GP Stakeholder Immersion session in Lagos recently, Olayinka Ijabiyi, the Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication of FirstBank, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives that engender human development across the country while cementing legacies.
“Our involvement in the E1 Lagos GP is about driving legacy and enabling the passions and aspirations that unite Nigerians. We are a bank that has been in business for over 131 years and we recognize that sports drives us as a country, which is why through our First@Sportsinitiative, we continue to invest in platforms that inspire and elevate our people. We have been supporting legacy sport tournaments like the Georgian Polo Cup which we have hosted for 105 years, and the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship for 64 years now,” Ijabiyi said.
With the event slated for the start of the fourth quarter, FirstBank is aligning its partnership with the annual DecemberIssaVybe initiative, a campaign that celebrates the vibrant spirit of Nigerians during the festive season by curating unforgettable experiences that blend culture, entertainment and lifestyle. “FirstBank is deeply woven into the fabric of society and the lives of our customers. As presenting partner, we are creating meaningful touchpoints with customers and prospects, offering them a world-class experience of relaxation and celebration that captures the true essence of Lagos during the festive season,” he added.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, who was also at the event, described the initiative as an event that will grow not just the sports but also showcase Lagos’s vibrant culture, dynamic people, and global relevance, while commending FirstBank for their support.
The teams owned by notable stars like Tom Brady, LeBron James, Didier Drogba, Will Smith, Marc Anthony, Steve Aoki, Rafael Nadal will compete in the Lagos leg before the 2025 season of the competition terminates in Miami in the United States.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has felicitated his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on her 65th birthday, describing her as a steadfast confidant, counsellor, and source of strength throughout decades of personal and political challenges.
The President praised the First Lady not only for her role in his life but also for her contributions to the nation. “As you celebrate your 65th birthday today, I honour not only the love of my life, but also a woman whose quiet strength and enduring grace have been my steadying anchor,” Tinubu said.
He reflected on her influence beyond the family, calling her a role model for their children and grandchildren, as well as a symbol of resilience for Nigerian women. “You are more than my wife. You are my confidant, counsellor, and the steady flame illuminating my path. In you, our children and grandchildren see compassion and faith, and in you, our nation sees the true strength of womanhood; resolute yet tender, humble yet unshakably firm,” he added.
The President also acknowledged the personal sacrifices she made during years of political struggle, framing them as a form of national service. “Nigeria owes you more than many will ever know. In every sacrifice you made quietly, in every burden you carried without complaint, you have served this country as surely as I have, not from the podium, but from the heart of our home,” he said.
Senator Tinubu, a former three-term senator for Lagos Central, has long championed education, youth empowerment, and women’s welfare. Ahead of her birthday, she announced that she would dedicate the day to raising funds for the completion of Nigeria’s long-delayed National Library in Abuja.
