Sesan Laoye || The last installation of 21 traditional rulers in Ibadanland has
continues to generate more heat in Ibadanland over Gov Ajimobi’s chieftaincy proclamation.
There appear to be on end in sight over the controversy that arose from the installation of 21 traditional rulers in Ibadan, by Oyo
state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
The coronation of the Traditional rulers has further divided the rank
and file in Ibadan as there are those against and in favour of the
new traditional order in the land. Those who felt that the action of
the governor was for the development of Ibadanland queued behind him
while those against it pitched their tents with the two major figures
in the land, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Osi of
Olubadanand the former governor of the State, Senator Rashidi Adewolu
Ladoja
From the beginning, the decision of Governor Ajimobi to change the
the traditional institution in Ibadan was opposed by the Olubadan in council.
Their opposition from the beginning provided the platform for a very strong
opposition against Governor Ajimobi by virtually all sons and
daughters of Ibadanland. But Governor Ajomobi never
allowed the antagonism he received to deter him. He moved ahead and
eventually set up a chieftaincy review commission.
What however said to have encouraged Ajimobi further was the response
which the Commission received. Those in favour were more than those
who were against it. With this, the number s of people against the
move started to wane down and with the propaganda machinery of the
governor; more people began to see reasons with him and endorsed
his action. Ajimobi himself who always portray the Ibadan in him never
stopped, talking about it anywhere he went to convince the people that
he meant well. At times, he would, turn the matter to a joke and at
other time he would regard it as a serious business which must be
accomplished.
With more people on his side, he became more courageous. As one of his
aides said, achieving the coronation of the 21 Obas in Ibadan did not
come as an easy task. The governor he said had to embark on house to
house campaigns moving to the houses of those that matters in the land
and outside the country to convince them that his action was to boost
the glory of Ibdanland and not to degrade it.
With this approach, he was able to win over other High chiefs in the
Olubadan in council and the entire Baales in Ibadanland who felt
elated that their status would change and that they would now be at
pal or even above town and villages in other Yoruba states, like Osun,
Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos that does not command the kind of population and
respect, they have.
Despite the fact that all other high chiefs in Ibadanland welcomed the
move that they would be upgraded to the position of traditional rulers
and that this would not change the succession plan to the throne of
Olubadan, the Olubadan himself and senator Ladoja were not convinced
about the intention of the governor. They still believed that it was
not right for him to change the traditional way of Obaship in Ibadan.
While Oba Adetunji saw it as an affront to diminish his status, Ladoja
saw it as a political move to prevent him from becoming the Olubadan
of Ibadanland and he did not hide his feelings about it. Right from
day one, he was against it and he is still not convinced that, Ajimobi
meant well. He believed that Ajimobi had an ulterior motive which is
not likely to manifest now but could be a trap for the traditional
institution in Ibadanland in future. As he said’’ I am not fighting
for myself but I am trying to protect the traditional and Obaship
institution in Ibadan which Ajimobi changed and which may boomerang in
future because I am a futuristic person and I can see beyond the
moment and when time comes the whole people and posterity would
vindicate me that the battle I am fighting is not mainly for my
interest but for the future of Ibadanland.’’
Events since Governor Ajimobi installed the
21 traditional rulers’ shows that the altercations, between him and
Ladoja, would continue. During the installation, Ajimobi used that
opportunity to tongue lash Ladoja. ‘’Ajimobi before he started his
speech at the occasion, asked whether, he should speak in Yoruba or
English. He said if the crowd allowed him to speak in Yoruba, he would
break down. He said he was overwhelmed by a deep sense of culture,
tradition as the installation marked a turning point in the history of
ibadanlan because the sons and daughters of the land have come
together in the historical hall of Mapo to elevate, to upgrade, to
transform the chieftaincy institution in Ibadanland. He argued that to keep
the tradition alive, something must be added to it and that is what he
did because tradition itself is not static. He continued that he was
delighted to be where history was being made and where they were
adding something to the tradition of Ibadanland.
He said that they are not changing history, tradition and the culture
of Ibadan,’’ rather than we are elevating and consolidating the
traditional institution.’’ According to him, contrary to the insinuations by
some people, he was elevating, and consolidating the position of
Olubadan of Ibdanland. He further added that they were consolidating
and elevating the Olubadan in council and promoting every chieftaincy
declaration of Olubadanland . He pointed out that this would not
change the traditional ancestry and Successions to the throne of
Olubadan.
What actually infuriated both the Olubadan and Senator Ladoja was the
remark of the governor. Despite the fact that he acknowledged that
Obas Adetunji is his father, he believed that the Oba is being
influenced by some politicians not to accept the changes which is
meant to uplift the title of Olubadan and to bring glory to
Ibadanland. He said the politicians who were confusing the Oba are
politicians whom he had defeated three times electorally. He said
that the politicians have been defeated, politically but intend to use
the present chieftaincy situation to score cheap points by poisoning
the mind of Oba Adetunji ‘’but they would not succeed’’. He pointed
out that there was no amount of mischief they made that they would not
be put to where they belong.
With his attack on politicians, whom he said confused the Olubadan,
the entire crowd at the ceremony and the entire Ibadanland, knew that
governor Ajimobi was apparently referring to Senator Ladoja. The
Olubadan and Ladoja were not taken aback they had to simultaneously
replied the governor. While Ladoja spoke loudly that the new
chieftaincy order was meant to prevent him from becoming the Olubadan
and that 1,000 Ajimobi cannot prevent him if it is the will of God,
Oba Adetunji was so bitter that the governor linked him with
politicians concerning what he did. He told the governor bluntly that
he is not a politician and was amazed that he, the governor could link
his action and his absence from the coronation to the influence of
some politicians. He pointed out that as the Olubadan of Ibadanland,
he is the father to all the people including politicians and he has no
option to welcome people in different political parties the APC, PDP,
Labour, APGA UNCP and Accord among others. He argued that even if he
is old, that does not mean that he should not know what to do or what
he is doing. He however cautioned the governor to be aware that power
is transcend and should not be misused.
What is now trending between Ladoja and Ajimobi was the statement of
the governor while defending his action that he was not the only
governor who changed the chieftaincy position of the state and that of
Ibadanland in particular. He said Ladoja too attempted to do the same
thing by setting up the Adio Panel but the report never saw the light
of the day, as there was no record in the governor’s office to show
that he did it, wondering what he Ladoja did with the report of the
Adio’s panel
According to Ajimobi a similar thing was done before him, because it
was not his administration who have walk down (this) road in reviewing
the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy law in pursuance of the 1959and other
chieftaincy titles in Ibadanland. In 1974 it was done by the Military
government, in 1981 there was justice Adenekan by then Military
Government the recommendation of that commission were accepted and
effected and changes were also made. It was done up till the period of
Alhaji Lamidi Adesina. Also in 1993 late Chief Kolapo Ishola’s
government setup a commission of enquiry to review the chieftaincy
declaration of Oyo state, and the recommendations were received by the
former governor, Late Alhaji Lam Adesina.
What actually touched Ladoja was the reference made to him that he,
Ladoja suspended the white paper on the recommendations of the Justice
Oloko. Ajimobi went on. ‘’L ater on Rashidi Ladoja instituted Adio’s
panel whose recommendations we have not seen up till today.’’ He said
all Ibadan elders’ and organizations were in support of the changes
being made except only one person referring to Ladoja
This is where Ladoja came out again to challenge Ajimobi during the
E-dKabir celebration, saying, that what Ajimobi said about him was not
true. He argued that he never set up any commission of enquiry
concerning the Chieftaincy title of Ibadanland and that he was amazed
that Governor Ajimobi linked his government with the Adio panel
According to him, there was never a time he did set up Adio’s panel
and which the recommendations were missing. He said if he did that,
the records would be available saying that Ajimobi may have been
misinformed. “I think Ajimobi was being misinformed, if not he must
have been lied to or properly he is a liar. I want to tell Ajimobi to
stop being mischievous as mischief would not lead him to anywhere.’’
As things were in Ibadanland today, there were indications that the
last is not yet heard about the controversy over the chieftaincy
declaration, as Ladoja and Ajimobi have continued to trade words.
While some school of thoughts believed that Ajimobi would settle with
Ladoja to accept the Obaship title as the Osi Olubadan, others were of
the opinions that he would not and if at all that would happen it
would not be during the tenure of the present administration of
Ajimobi. Whatever the case may be time would tell.
I am not interested in becoming the President of Nigeria—–Ajimobi
The governor of oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has declared that he
was not interested to aspire for the position of the president of the
country in future.
Ajimobi made this known on two occasions, while making his speech at
the coronations of 21 traditional rulers in Ibadanland and while
reacting to the aspersions cast on him over the chieftaincy matter by
the Osi of Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja that he Ajimobi
was being mischievous.
Ajimobi said that he did not care what people are saying because he
meant well and that , he had no intention of becoming the President of
Nigeria having been blessed by God to rule As a Governor’’
He said he is not fighting with anybody, because God has ‘’answered my
pray and whoever god answers his pray does not fight with anybody.
Please my good people of Oyo Stat, and sons and daughters of
Ibadanland don’t listen to gossips from any quarters that I am
fighting with anybody that is not true. He said he is not fit to
fight with Oba Saliu Adetunji because he was the one that made him
the Aare and he would never in his life fight him.’’
He argued that the notion in Oyo state is that virtually all those who
have ruled the state, always quarrel with traditional rulers. ‘’They
say that they fight with Alafin, Soun of Ogbomosho, Olubadan and
others, but to god be the glory since we have been governing, the
state, we have not had issues with any traditional ruler in Oyo State.
And we are not going to fight anybody because God has uplifted us than
fighting anybody’’ He pointed out that ‘’today’s innovations are
tomorrow’s traditions’’
APC should be prepared to quit osun next year—– PDP Scribe Bola Ajao
As the governorship election in osun state is less than a year now,
and with all the political parties trying to shop for who would flag
the flag of their various political parties, the state secretary of
the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) Hon Bola Ajao has said that the
performance of Governor Rauf Aregbesola would not make the people of
Osun state to embrace the All Progressives Congress (APC) any longer.
He said that the Apc government has made the people of Osun state
poorer that he met them.
According to him, all his actions programmes are counterproductive to
the people and what the people of the state need now is an onward
looking person who would transform the state and bring it out of the
woods. ’The state has not been this bad since it was created when
Aregbesola came to Osun, the people believed that they have found
messiah they were jubilating, and now their joy has turned the other
way round. ‘’ When you visit any part of the state today, the poor
performance of Aregbesola is the sing song and you van see on the
faces of the people that they are not happy. You can imagine a
governor who has subjected the workers to compulsory half salary since
2015 and he is not sober about it. He is an arrogant fellow who is
also Mr. know all’’ He pointed out that the governor does not listen
to any other person but always believe in himself. If you ever go to
where he is holding meetings, he would be the only one talking, draw
the conclusion and finalize everything. He is an Engineer, he is the
surveyor, and he is the mechanic who is the administrator who can
proffer solutions to all the problems in the state. Definitely the
people would not want that kind of person to succeed him.
On the rumour that Aregbesola intends to plant his successor, Ajao
said,’’ the man does not know the people of Osun he would get to know
them proper when the election comes and even during the primaries of
his party. I think by now Aregbesola should have learnt his lessons
from the result of the Osun West senatorial election which brought in
the junior brother of late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, Demola to
the Senate’’
‘’Let me say this, the revolution against him would start from his
party as they are ready for him over his plan to impose who will run
against the wishes of the people that there should be primaries on a
level playing ground’’
He said the PDP is battle ready to slug it out with other political
parties saying that the reconciliation of members is yielding fruitful
results. ‘’We have come together under one platform and things would
be done according to rules and regulations of the party when it comes
to picking a candidate for the governorship.’’