Olubadan of Ibadanland urges unity among stakeholders on New Oyo State creation, warning disagreements on capital and name may delay progress

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Thursday urged advocates of the proposed New Oyo State to build internal consensus to achieve their goal, warning that disagreements over the state’s name and capital could stall progress.

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Oba Ladoja gave the advice while hosting members of the Committee on the Creation of Ibadan and New Oyo State, led by Francis Adedayo and Saheed Malik, at the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

The monarch recalled that he had previously appealed to President Bola Tinubu on September 26, 2025, to support the creation of Ibadan State and called for the proposal to be realised before 2027.

“My people sent me a message to Mr President. Mr President, they said the creation of Ibadan State is their priority,” Oba Ladoja declared.

The Olubadan noted that towns including Iseyin, Agunrege, Oyo, and Ogbomoso have expressed interest in being designated as the new state’s capital, and emphasised the need for compromise. “You need to build consensus.

You need compromise. Oke-Ogun has 10 Local Governments, Ogbomoso has four. How much representation of Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso do we have here? You cannot wish them away,” he said.

Also speaking, Ojelabi Morakinyo from Ibarapa affirmed the longstanding unity between Ibarapa and Ibadan, noting that their interests align regarding the proposed Ibadan State.

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The meeting was attended by prominent traditional and community leaders, including the Osi Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Sulaiman Ajewole.