Ibadan Needs Urban Renewal – Olubadan -Designate, Oba Ladoja

*Hosts Ibadan Mogajis on Congratulatory visit

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan

The Olubadan of Ibadanland designate, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja has advocated that there is the need for urban renewal in Ibadan

According to a statement on Sunday by the Media Aide to the Olubadan elect, Alhaji Adeola Oloko, Oba Ladoja said this while welcoming Ibadan Mogajis who came to congratulate him on his emergence as the next Olubadan to his Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan residence.

Oba Ladoja pointed out that it is now time for compound heads and community leaders to help chart a course to make the left-over of ancient houses in Ibadan liveable, saying. a good number of Mogajis in Ibadanland were well off to personally initiate developmental programme in their ancestral homes but 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.

He stressed that 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.

“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”, he said.

The Olubadan designate added, “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 noted 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.

He emphasized that 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, he lauded 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 solicited the support and co-operation of the Mogajis and chiefs in his bid to restore Ibadan’s economic fortunes.

Congratulating the Olubadan designate during the visit, leader of Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori commended Oba Ladoja for his vision and pledged the support and co-operation of the family compound heads to the monarch.Chief Ariori prayed God to give Oba Ladoja long life to rule and reign over Ibadanland.