The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has appealed to residents and friends of Ibadan to mark his 82nd birthday and first coronation anniversary with prayers and thanksgiving rather than elaborate celebrations.
Ladoja made the appeal in a statement issued by his media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan on Sunday.
The monarch will celebrate his 82nd birthday on Friday, September 25, while his first anniversary on the Olubadan throne will follow on Saturday, September 26.
According to him, the twin celebrations provide an opportunity to appreciate God for his life and seek divine guidance for the future of the traditional institution, Ibadanland, Oyo State and Nigeria.
He said, “Those who love us, and Ibadan should please join us in giving thanks to God, and in committing the years ahead into His hands.”
Ladoja explained that he had personally chosen to use the occasions to offer prayers and express gratitude to God, urging the people to adopt the same approach.
“Therefore, I want to implore the people and friends of Ibadan to use the twin occasions of my birthday and coronation anniversary to give thanks and offer prayers to God, rather than resort to elaborate merriment,” he said.
The Olubadan also expressed appreciation to the people of Ibadan for their support and cooperation during his first year on the throne.
“I want to appreciate the people for their cooperation and support over the past year, and I am promising that the future would be better and more glorious than the present, as the joy of the living is in the hope for better things,” he stated.
The monarch further called on his friends and well-wishers to use the occasion to support people facing difficult circumstances, particularly children in motherless babies’ homes.
He urged them to extend their generosity to such homes so that the beneficiaries could also share in the joy of the celebrations.
