Traders across eleven local government areas will suspend activities to honor Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja’s installation as 44th Olubadan.
IBADAN, Nigeria – Markets throughout Ibadanland are shutting down this Friday, September 26, as traders pay their respects to Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja’s coronation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. Babaloja General Asiwaju Yekeen Abass ordered the closure, though it appears most traders were already planning to close anyway.
When Business Takes a Back Seat
Abass, who speaks for traders across Oyo State, announced that all eleven local government areas in Ibadanland will suspend trading for the day. That’s no small thing when you consider Friday is typically one of the week’s biggest money-making days at places like Bodija and Dugbe markets.
Thousands of traders who normally crowd these bustling commercial centers will be heading to Mapo Hall instead. Abass seems to think this collective gesture is essential, though some smaller traders may be wondering about the day’s lost income.
“All markets within the eleven local government areas of Ibadanland, including those in the city centre and surrounding areas, will suspend trading activities for the day,” he said in his announcement.
What the Market Leaders Are Saying
The statement from Abass congratulated Oba Ladoja on behalf of market leaders, zonal executives, and pretty much everyone in the trading business across Oyo State. There’s clearly high hopes for what this new reign might bring.
“We pray for a peaceful, prosperous, and impactful reign that would bring progress to Ibadanland and the state as a whole,” Abass declared. Whether these expectations will translate into actual economic benefits for ordinary traders remains to be seen, though the optimism appears genuine.
The Coronation Itself
Mapo Hall will be the center of attention Friday. Abass is pushing hard for traders to show up, calling it crucial for keeping the traditionally strong relationship between merchants and traditional rulers intact. And honestly, that relationship has historically been pretty good for business in this part of Nigeria.
The venue choice makes sense, Mapo Hall has hosted major Ibadan ceremonies for generations. Still, getting thousands of traders to leave their stalls and shops might be easier said than done, especially during what could have been a profitable trading day.
A Birthday Too
Interestingly, the coronation coincides with Oba Ladoja’s birthday, which Abass made sure to acknowledge with “many happy returns.” The timing seems almost too perfect, though it may simply reflect how these traditional calendar events sometimes align.
Oba Ladoja brings something different to the throne. His background as former Oyo State Governor suggests he might bridge the gap between traditional authority and modern governance, though whether that translates into tangible benefits for local commerce is yet to be determined.
The Real Cost
Here’s what’s striking: traders are willingly giving up what could be thousands of naira in Friday sales. The areas affected, Ibadan North, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-West, plus Akinyele, Egbeda, Ido, Lagelu, Oluyole, and Ona Ara, house some of the region’s most active markets.
Bodija Market alone serves tens of thousands of customers weekly. Dugbe and Oje markets aren’t far behind. Yet merchants across these areas appear ready to lock up their shops for the day. That level of respect for traditional institutions says something about how deeply these cultural ties still run, even in an increasingly modern Nigeria.
Whether this gesture will be remembered when traders need support from the palace down the road, well, that’s probably what many are hoping for.
