In Nigeria, power takes many forms. Some wield it through the ballot box, others inherit it through centuries of tradition. But every now and then, the two paths converge in fascinating ways. The rare journey from political office to royal throne is one that has produced some of the most intriguing stories in Nigeria’s history. It is a reminder that leadership in this country has never been confined to one arena.
The rarest of transitions
For most politicians, life after office is either quiet retirement or continued struggle for relevance. Very few make the transition from government house to palace. When they do, Nigerians pay attention because it feels like history folding into itself. The recent crowning of Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the Olubadan of Ibadanland is one such case. Ladoja, who once governed Oyo State, has now been installed as the 44th Olubadan. His journey is historic because he is the first civilian governor in Nigeria’s democratic era to later sit on a first-class throne.
The Ibadan stool is one of the most respected in Yorubaland, and Ladoja’s coronation is not just about royal succession. It is about how politics and tradition can collide in one man’s life. But while his story has drawn headlines, it is not the only example of Nigeria’s dance between politics and royalty.
Monarchs who shaped politics
There have been monarchs who never held elected office yet wielded immense political clout. The late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo, was one such figure. His reign was a blend of tradition and raw political influence. Successive governments at both state and federal levels could not ignore his voice. He was more than a king within palace walls. He was a bridge between tradition and modern power.
The Awujale of Ijebuland, late Oba Sikiru Adetona, was another monarch whose role has gone far beyond ceremonial duties. For decades, politicians have sought his blessing before major elections. His palace has often been a forum where national issues were debated. He may never have held office, but his influence over governance has been undeniable.
Politicians who became kings
Beyond monarchs who influenced politics, Nigeria has also witnessed politicians who eventually became kings. Ladoja is the latest example, but before him there were others, particularly from the military era.
Major General Muhammadu Sani Sami, who served as Governor of Bauchi State in the 1980s, later became the Emir of Zuru in Kebbi State before his death.
Mohammed Dan Ma’aji Jega’s journey is one of those rare Nigerian stories where military boots gave way to royal robes. Born on April 22, 1942, in Jega, then part of the old Sokoto Province, he rose through the army ranks to become a Major General before stepping into politics. His big break came under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime when he was appointed Governor of Gongola State.
Years later, he traded the political stage for the traditional one, becoming the Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State.
Alhaji Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim, born on September 8, 1941, is both a respected traditional ruler and a historic political figure. He currently serves as the Emir of Suleja in Niger State but first made his mark as the state’s very first elected governor during Nigeria’s Second Republic. His journey into public life was shaped by a solid educational foundation. He studied in Bida and Kano before earning degrees in English at Abdullahi Bayero College, where he would later return as a lecturer and administrator. From academia, he transitioned into government service, rising through the ranks to become a permanent secretary in Niger State.
In 1979, Ibrahim took the bold step into politics under the banner of the National Party of Nigeria. He contested and won the governorship of Niger State, becoming its pioneer elected leader. His tenure, however, was cut short in December 1983 when the military, led by General Muhammadu Buhari, seized power and ended the Second Republic. Years later, his story came full circle when he ascended the throne as Emir of Suleja, joining the unique class of Nigerian leaders who have worn both the crown of political office and the crown of traditional authority.
Abu Ali, now known as Abu Ali Mopa III, is a retired Nigerian Army brigadier general whose path from military service to the royal stool stands out in Nigeria’s history. He governed Bauchi State from August 1990 to July 1992 under General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, before later becoming the Etsu of Bassa Nge in Kogi State.
Today, as the Etsu of Bassa Nge, he represents the rare blend of Nigeria’s military past and its traditional institutions, embodying both authority and continuity in leadership.
Alfred Diete-Spiff, once military governor of Rivers State, also ascended as the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass.
These transitions from military government to traditional stools show that power, whether seized or inherited, often finds its way back to the people through culture.
Kings with government credentials
Some monarchs did not serve as governors but had strong political backgrounds before taking the crown. Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi Kusenla III, the 21st Elegushi of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom is a prime example. Before becoming king in 2010, he was a Personal Assistant and later a Senior Special Assistant in Lagos State under Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola. His political exposure gave him insights that many monarchs never get before their coronation, and today he stands out as one of Nigeria’s youngest, most visible kings.
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, also reflects this fusion. Before his coronation, he lived abroad and engaged with political and administrative structures. Since becoming king, he has never shied away from political commentary, proving that the boundaries between monarchy and governance remain porous.
What these stories tell us
These stories, whether of monarchs who influenced politics or politicians who later wore crowns, reveal something deeper about Nigeria. Leadership here is layered. Power is not only about elections and offices. It is also about lineage, tradition and cultural authority. The transition from power to palace is rare, but it captures the essence of how Nigerian society views leadership. To govern people, you do not only need votes. Sometimes, you also need ancestral legitimacy.
Ladoja’s coronation is fresh in our minds because it is a modern-day reminder that the two worlds are not mutually exclusive. From Alaafin Adeyemi to Awujale Adetona, from Elegushi to Oluwo of Iwo, and from Diete-Spiff to Sani Sami, Nigeria’s history is filled with men who remind us that politics and royalty often walk side by side.
Conclusion
When politics wears the crown, it is more than a personal achievement. It is a cultural event. It shows that leadership in Nigeria is not boxed into a single definition. A man can be Excellency and later become Kabiyesi. A ruler can sit in council chambers and later preside over a royal court. That duality is rare, but it is what makes these stories unforgettable.
In the end, whether through ballots or beaded crowns, Nigerians continue to revere those who rise to positions of authority. And when one man walks both paths, he leaves behind a legacy that outlives titles. He becomes a bridge between politics and tradition, a symbol of how power in Nigeria truly wears two faces.
