More About Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa 1, Olubadan Of Ibadanland

This piece is not about his place of birth, his educational background, his parentage, his marital life, but much more about his person, his mien, his innate qualities, and his unmistakable love for his people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general.

In my years as the Public Relations Officer of Lautech Teaching Hospital in Osogbo (before it was split into two and even thereafter,) I came in contact with many people, some intimately and many casually. My contacts with government officials in the course of my duties as the Image Maker and broker of the then fledging tertiary hospital, the meetings were mostly official but usually impressionable. All of the time in the course of my duty I was always conscious and sensitive to responses, remarks and directives of the stakeholders the institution had relationships with. The mien, jokes and jabs at official engagements especially meetings with policy makers have a lot of import and impact which at times cannot be ignored or wished away with a wave of hand. It was my duty to do a post meeting analysis in a passionate way to ensure that the Management has a clear understanding of the underlying messages.

It is in line with this that I had a chance official meet with His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa 1, Olubadan of Ibadanland when he was the Executive Governor of Oyo State. It was not an intimate relationship but the occasion had a lasting impression which also enhanced my principles on the essence of service and values. How did it happen? As at the time of reference, Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo was run by Oyo and Osun States. It was established by the two States whose people till today have much in common than any fundamental differences. This sentiment was translated into a brotherly gesture by Governors Lam Adesina of Oyo State and Bisi Akande of Osun State, the two, progressively minded proteges of Awolowo. They imbibed the philosophy that socio- political cum economic developments could only be the legendary assets rather than stashing away the nation’s wealth in a dungeon. In their common values and purposes, Lam Adesina and Bisi Akande thought that Ladoke Akinola University of Technology which had earlier been established before they came on board and located in Ogbomoso should have both its Teaching Hospital and Medical School be established as a joint ownership of the two States and located in Osogbo, though under different managements. Both the University and the Teaching Hospital were to be run and funded equally by both States. By implications the Managements of the institutions were to source their personnels from both states. It was in the course of these arrangements that the Management of Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo (now known and called Uniosun Teaching Hospital Osogbo) had to go and present its proposals to His Excellency, Governor Rashidi Ladoja (as he was then) for funding through annual budgetary provisions. As usual such presentations are done with mix feelings full of anxiety and at times trepidation especially if the Governor was a technocrat himself such that you could not bamboozle or confuse him with technical jargons. That day one could deduce that Governor Ladoja as a person loves knitty gritty of facts and figures. He was thorough and painstaking and seemed not to be in a hurry. The presentation was smooth and full of much conviviality. As the presentation was about winding down, His Excellency, Governor Rashidi Ladoja wondered why Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo being owned by both Oyo and Osun States was yet to have an Outreach in any part of Oyo since its inception. The Governor also wanted to know if such a plan was being contemplated. The Chief Medical Director Professor Bisi Obisesan was taken unawares. He muttered few words which were hardly audible. Then came the Executive directive: “make sure you establish an Outreach of the Teaching Hospital Osogbo in any rural town in this State (Oyo) for both Medical Services and Rural Posting of trainees and feed me back.” It was instantly obvious that the Governor has spoken and surreptitiously “legislated”.

Few months later, the implementation of the Governor’s directive became a condition for the release of the hospital’s budgetary allocation. It now dawned on the Management of the hospital to fast track implementation of the Governor’s directive. The search for a possible location for the Outreach took a three man committee of the hospital to Sepeteri, Igboho and Igbeti towns. The findings were yet to be submitted when Governor Rashidi Ladoja was impeached. The unpopular impeachment is now a history.

How did Governor Ladoja’s pet idea of a mere Hospital Outreach by the then Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo metamorphosed into a full Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso? When Governor Adebayo Akala came on board, all Ministries, Departments and Pararastals were lined up to brief the new Governor on the state of affairs. At the turn of Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Bisi Obisesan gleefully narrated the plan to establish an Outreach in Oyo State with location yet to be concluded. Waoh!! Governor Alao Akala was excited. In a jiffy he just directed: “go and start one in Ogbomoso”. The directive was infectious. Promptly, Chief Layiwola Olakojo who was the Secretary to Oyo State Government (SSG) would not want to be left out as he as a matter of fact retorted: “and another one in Oyo town”. That was how the small idea of a Hospital Outreach in any rural community as earlier mooted by His Excellency Rashidi Ladoja later developed into a gigantic hospital which is now located in Ogbomosho.

The eventual establishment of Lautech Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso should be seen as a metamorphosis of Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s pet idea of ensuring that Oyo State benefited maximally from the joint ownership of Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo.
Without any doubt, Kabiyesi Ladoja has always been a man who loves his people and would want them to benefit from any rightful opportunities. Definitely, in his new and greater status, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Arusa 1 Olubadan of Ibadanland would not do less for his people.

How much would it have been for me to prostrate in obeisance to our Baba, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Arusa 1 Olubadan of Ibadanland and remind him of his epoch subtle, measured but firm directive that as a matter of urgency Lautech Teaching Hospital Osogbo should have at least one outreach hospital in any part of Oyo State, a directive which eventually gave birth to the gigantic edifice in Ogbomoso and another one in Oyo that suffered a stillbirth.

Kabiyesiii you are just a history maker… Enitan ni yin, Kabiyesiii. Ki ade PE lori o!!

CHIEF (DR) AYODELE ADEYEMO JP
Asiwaju Ogobi-Ede Ede, Osun State.