Olubadan-designate and former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday urged Mogajis and community leaders in Ibadan to resist the temptation of abandoning their ancestral compounds for more comfortable neighbourhoods.
Speaking at his Ondo Street residence in Bodija, where hundreds of Mogajis had gathered to felicitate with him on his emergence as the next Olubadan, Ladoja stressed that chiefs and family heads bear a duty to their roots.
In a statement by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan-in-waiting expressed concern that many Mogajis, despite being financially capable, have neglected developmental responsibilities in their compounds.
“Many of our chiefs now live in highbrow areas such as Bodija, Oluyole, Iyaganku, Jericho, Akobo, or even outside Ibadan and the country. Some have not convened family meetings in years, even after receiving their titles,” he said.
He warned that the neglect of ancestral homes was contributing to social decay, adding that the younger generation needs role models who remain connected to their roots.
“A Mogaji in Ibadan is not merely a title; it is a responsibility. By residing in or frequently visiting your ancestral homes, you set examples for the younger ones. You became what God destined you to be in this same society. Let us therefore give back by staying close to the grassroots,” Ladoja charged.
He disclosed that in line with this principle, he had renovated his family house at Isale Osi, which he intends to visit regularly after his coronation. According to him, keeping ancestral compounds habitable could also help curb drug abuse and other vices among youths.
Earlier, the leader of Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, congratulated Ladoja on his emergence and commended his foresight, pledging the loyalty and cooperation of the compound heads. He prayed for long life and a successful reign for the incoming monarch.
Also, the Federation of Ibadan Students Union under the leadership of Aare Giwa Kamorudeen Olawale congratulated Ladoja on his emergence and prayed for long life and a successful reign for the incoming monarch.
