Rasheed Ladoja
Rashidi Ladoja | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 25, 1944 Gambari village near Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician, traditional ruler |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Governor of Oyo State (2003–2006, 2006–2007) |
Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (born 25 September 1944) is a Nigerian entrepreneur and political figure who held the position of governor of Oyo State from 2003 until 2006 and then again from 2006 to 2007, following his impeachment and subsequent reinstatement.
Early life
Ladoja hails from Gambari village near Ibadan. His education includes attendance at Ibadan Boys High School between 1958 and 1963, followed by studies at Olivet Baptist High School from 1964 to 1965. He later obtained a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Liège in Belgium, completing his studies between 1966 and 1972. Afterward, he spent thirteen years working at Total Nigeria in multiple capacities before venturing into private enterprise in 1985. His business ventures cover sectors such as shipping, manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and transportation.
In politics, Ladoja was elected to the Nigerian Senate during the brief Third Republic in 1993 and was associated with the United Nigeria Congress Party during General Abacha’s transitional regime. By the year 2000, he had taken on a directorial role at Standard Trust Bank Limited.
Governor of Oyo State
In April 2003, Ladoja secured election as governor of Oyo State under the PDP banner, officially taking office on 29 May 2003. Initially, he enjoyed the backing of Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, a key PDP power figure within the state. However, by August 2004, tensions arose between Ladoja and Adedibu over control of government appointments, with the party leadership siding with Adedibu. Towards the end of 2005, PDP national chairman Ahmadu Ali publicly declared that Ladoja was expected to adhere to Adedibu’s guidance.
On 12 January 2006, the Oyo State House of Assembly impeached Ladoja and installed his deputy, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, as governor. This impeachment was later overturned when the Appeal Court ruled it unlawful on 1 November 2006, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court on 11 November 2006. Ladoja returned to office on 12 December 2006 amid increased security measures aimed at preventing conflict between supporters aligned with Alao-Akala and Adedibu.
Failing to obtain the PDP nomination for a second term, Ladoja instead endorsed Action Congress candidates during local council elections that were boycotted by the PDP. The Action Congress secured twenty-six seats while the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) won seven. Nonetheless, his successor Alao-Akala later dismissed these council chairmen and replaced them with officials loyal to the PDP.
Later career
On 28 August 2008, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Ladoja over accusations involving the non-remittance of N1.9 billion derived from government share sales during his tenure. He was briefly detained at Lagos Federal High Court on 30 August 2008 before being granted bail on 5 September, set at one hundred million naira with two guarantors. In March 2009, testimony from a former aide detailed how proceeds from share sales were distributed among Ladoja’s family members, personal security detail, senior politicians, and legal representatives.
Ladoja contested for Oyo State governor under the Accord party in both the 2011 and 2015 elections but was defeated by Senator Abiola Ajimobi. In 2017, he merged Accord into the PDP but subsequently shifted allegiance to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in 2018 due to internal conflicts within PDP. After a short stint with ADC, he and his supporters transitioned to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in December of that year.
On 12 August 2024, Ladoja was ceremonially crowned with a beaded crown by the incumbent Olubadan and endorsed by the Oyo State Government, thus becoming an Oba. Following the passing of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin—the forty-third Olubadan—Ladoja was declared his successor on 7 July 2025.