Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, has confirmed that three High Chiefs will not attend their coronation on Friday, April 3, 2026. Among those absent is Chief Sharafadeen Alli, whose non-participation has been formally acknowledged by the monarch. The ceremony, set to take place in Ibadan, will proceed despite the unexpected withdrawal of the chiefs. No official reason has been given for their absence, and the palace has not indicated any postponement of the event. The coronation remains scheduled for the original date, with other traditional rites expected to hold as planned. The Ibadan traditional council has remained silent on the implications of the missing chiefs.
A coronation missing key chiefs signals internal fractures no royal statement can smooth over. When figures like Chief Sharafadeen Alli are absent without explanation, public confidence in the process erodes. For Ibadan residents, this casts doubt on the unity the monarchy aims to project. Symbolic events lose weight when participation is incomplete.
