The Oyo State Government will crown Senator Buruji Kashamu, former Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and several others as traditional rulers in Ibadanland on Friday, 3rd April 2026. The coronation and presentation of the Staff of Office will take place at Mapo Hall Grounds, Ibadan, starting at 10:00 a.m. The event marks the formal elevation of the individuals to the status of crown-wearing Obas, a title traditionally reserved for monarchs with full traditional authority in their domains. Senator Kashamu is expected to be crowned as the Olu of Olowolagun of Iperu, while Dr. Mimiko will be installed as the Orumoge of Orumogemeta. Other notable figures to be honoured include Chief Kola Balogun, who will become the Olu of Olowu of Iwo. The ceremony will be attended by top political and traditional leaders across southwestern Nigeria. The Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, confirmed the date and venue, describing the event as a unifying moment for the people of Ibadanland.
Installing sitting and former politicians as crown-wearing monarchs blurs the line between public office and traditional authority. Senator Buruji Kashamu and Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, both active in modern governance, now take on roles steeped in centuries-old tradition, raising questions about the political weight such titles carry. For Nigerians, this fusion of political influence and traditional prestige may reinforce elite consolidation rather than cultural preservation. The ceremony itself, set for Mapo Hall, becomes less about heritage and more about contemporary power mapping.
