Ibadan Needs Urban Renewal, Says Olubadan-designate – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Raji Adebayo

The Olubadan-Elect,Oba Rashidi Ladoja has urged compound heads and community leaders to help chart a course to make the left-over of ancient houses in Ibadan liveable.
Oba Ladoja made this call over the weekend while welcoming hundreds of Ibadan Mogajis who came to congratulate him on his emergence as the next Olubadan to his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan residence.

The monarch noted that a good number of Mogajis were well off to personally initiate developmental programme in their ancestral homes but he regretted that many had chosen to live in the high brow areas in town like Bodija, Oluyole, Iyaganku, Jericho, Akobo, if not outrightly outside Ibadan and Nigeria where lives are relatively better.

Some have not even summoned family meetings for a long time to discuss family developmental activities since they received chieftaincy titles,adding that being a Mogaji or Chief in Ibadan isn’t just a title but a responsibility.

According to Olubadan-designate in a statement by his media aide, Adeola Oloko on Sunday, “We are looking at a situation where Mogajis and chiefs would not abandon their ancestral homes.By so doing, you can positively impact the younger generation looking for mentorship. You lived in this same society and have become what God wants you to be.Please,let’s encourage the people at the grassroots by staying with them and sharing with them”.

Oba Ladoja contended that if community leaders could renovate old buildings in terrible state of disrepair, and occasionally inhabit them,cases of drug abuse and other social vices would be reduced to the barest minimum.

According to him, it is in order to change the narratives that he has renovated his family house at Isale Osi,which he would be visiting as Olubadan from time to time.Oba Ladoja, however, commended the efforts of some of the community leaders in assisting the needy in their homesteads through provision of scholarships for indigent students,and provision of conducive environment for genuine community development.

He enlisted the support and co-operation of the Mogajis and chiefs in his bid to restore Ibadan’s economic fortunes.

Earlier, the leader of Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori had congratulated the Olubadan-in-waiting.While commending Oba Ladoja for his vision, he pledged the support and co-operation of the family compound heads to the monarch. He prayed God to give him long life to rule and reign over Ibadanland.