The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to confront Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, saying the problem is being actively addressed by the current administration.
The monarch spoke on Friday after a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noting that insecurity has continued to disrupt livelihoods, particularly agricultural activities, across different parts of the country.
According to Ladoja, fear has gripped many communities as farmers increasingly find it unsafe to access their farmlands, a situation he said is no longer limited to the northern regions but is spreading to the South.
“Insecurity is the major issue confronting us now. Farmers are afraid to go to their farms, and people are apprehensive about carrying out their daily activities,” the traditional ruler said, adding that the situation, though serious, was not beyond resolution.
He stated that his meeting with the President reinforced his belief that the Federal Government is taking concrete steps to address the challenge.
“I do not think it is insurmountable. We believe that the President is already tackling it,” he said.
Ladoja explained that the visit was primarily to thank President Tinubu for his support following his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadanland in September 2025, noting that he had been seeking an opportunity to formally pay his respects since assuming the throne.
Reflecting on Tinubu’s leadership style, the former Oyo State governor pointed to the President’s record as Lagos State governor, where he said Tinubu successfully transformed the state’s economic structure and governance framework.
Describing Nigeria as a far more complex entity than any single state, Ladoja nonetheless expressed optimism that Tinubu’s experience would translate into national progress.
“Nigeria is more complex than a state because of our diversity and differing expectations, but if you know where the President is coming from, you will understand that he knows what he is doing,” he said.
READ ALSO: Olubadan Sounds Alarm, Rallies Yoruba to Stay Alert as Insecurity Spikes
He further observed that Nigerian states are currently better funded than they were during his tenure as governor, a development he said should enable them to meet more of their obligations and complement federal economic reforms.
Ladoja expressed hope that by the end of Tinubu’s tenure in 2031, the country would be in a stronger position economically and socially.
“We believe the economy is being fixed, and we hope that when he leaves office in 2031, Nigeria will be a country all of us can be proud of,” the monarch said.
The visit underscores continued engagement between traditional institutions and the Federal Government amid ongoing efforts to address insecurity, economic reform, and national development.