… Accuses Ladoja of
using the Palace to Relaunch Political Career
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that he
had no plans of deposing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, no
matter the level of provocation and opposition to the recent installation of
new obas in Ibadanland.
He also appealed to members of the Obas-in-Council and all
other newly installed obas in Ibadanland to extend the olive branch to the
Olubadan by visiting him as a way of assuring the paramount ruler that they
bore no grudge against him.
The governor spoke at a meeting he held with the traditional
council of the 11 local governments in Ibadanland, which are being headed by
the Obas-in-Council, formerly known as members of the Olubadan-in-Council, at
the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan.
The meeting was also attended by senior chiefs in Ibadanland,
members of the Ibadan Elders’ Forum, chairmen of the 11 local governments and
14 local council development areas in Ibadan as well as members of the state
executive council.
Despite being vested with enormous powers of suspension and
deposition of erring monarch, as enshrined in Cap 28, Section 26 (1) of the
Chiefs Laws of Oyo State 2000, Ajimobi said that he would not invoke such
powers over the Ibadan monarch.
The section reads, "The governor may suspend or depose any
chief (oba) whether appointed before or after the commencement of this law if
it is satisfied that such suspension or deposition is required according to
customary law or is necessary in the interest of peace or order or good
government."
Governor Ajimobi, who reiterated that Oba Adetunji was his
father, said that he would not do anything that would diminish his status or
bring his exalted stool into disrepute.
He said, "Let me state that the existing chieftaincy law
gives any governor power to remove any traditional ruler who engages in
activities that can jeopardize the peace of his domain.
"I should also add that Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of
Ibadanland, has of recent been engaging in certain activities that are inimical
to the peace and tranquility of Ibadan.
"Only recently, Olubadan embarked on a roadshow across
Ibadan, waving horsetail to bystanders in an apparent attempt to incite the
people against the government. Such actions could have pitted the antagonists
and protagonists of installation of new obas against one another.
"This is capable of plunging Ibadan metropolis into a crisis
of unimaginable proportion, if not for the understanding and support of the
people for the government. But no matter what happens, I assure you I will
never depose the Olubadan. He remains my father. His palace is just being used
by failed politicians, especially the Accord Party leader, Chief Rashidi
Ladoja, to relaunch his faded political career.
"I hold the Olubadan and his stool in high esteem. This is
why I will also want to beg the obas-in-council to visit Baba and mend their
relationship. If I can’t fight the Olubadan, please you should not fight him."
Ajimobi, who described the royal father as a good man, with
liberal disposition, however, expressed the regret that he had allowed his
palace to be hijacked by those he called failed politicians and serial losers.
He said that their plans were not only to heat up the polity
but also to return Ibadan metropolis to the dark days when arson, violence and
brigandage reigned supreme, all targeted at the 2019 general elections.
The governor added, "Reports at our disposal indicate that
the crisis that had trailed the appointment of new obas in Ibadan and the gun
attack on the Olubadan palace on Monday might have been masterminded by these
failed politicians.
"They have taken advantage of Kabiyesi’s advanced age to
carry out their nefarious activities and use the palace as the centre of
opposition to the government. What they failed to achieve through the ballot
box, they want to achieve through the back door.
"Our government is not for violence. We don’t encourage
brigandage. It is people like Ladoja who have been promoting violence that were
behind the attack on Olubadan’s palace. It was during Ladoja’s regime that
gunmen shot into the late Baba (Lamidi) Adedibu’s house because of his
opposition to him.
"Ladoja’s supporters caused mayhem in Akure (Ondo State)
when he lost out in his bid to be endorsed as the governorship candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party. During his administration, even the governor’s office
became a theatre of war. All these are on record."
He, however, vowed not to be intimidated by what he called
Ladoja’s pull-him-down syndrome and self-centredness.
Speaking earlier, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi
Olakulehin, expressed appreciation to the governor for the matured way he had
handled the provocative activities of the opponents of the recent review of the
Olubadan Chieftaincy Law.
Olakulehin recalled what he called the overwhelming support
members of the then Olubadan-in-Council gave Oba Adetunji during his nomination
as Olubadan-designate and his eventual colorful coronation by the state
government.
He, however, alleged that the foremost traditional ruler had
treated them with disdain and had embarked on activities that could tarnish the
revered Olubadan stool.
The royal father particularly cited the "unilateral removal
of Alhaja Abake Lawal as the Iyaloja of Ibadanland by Oba Adetunji" allegedly
on the excuse that she was not an Ibadan indigene in spite of the opposition by
the Olubadan-in-Council.
Also, the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Gbadamosi
Adebimpe, rejoiced with the governor on what he called the successful
completion of the Olubadan chieftaincy law review, adding that the Olubadan
stool had further been elevated to the imperial status.
He said that Ladoja’s major grouse with the governor was
that he had no opportunity of carrying out the reform during his own tenure as
governor.
Oba Adebimpe said, "I will appeal to the citizens of Oyo
State to be praying for good health and strength for the governor because of
his many good intentions. I rejoice with him for seeing the reform through. He
has succeeded where his predecessors have failed.
"I also want to say that the main grouse of my friend is
that he was unable to carry out this reform when he was governor. I salute
Ajimobi’s doggedness and courage. He has taken many valiant and commendable
steps since he became governor.
"Maybe, Kabiyesi the Olubadan did not know that the governor
had elevated his status by this review. He is also a beneficiary because he is
now the imperial majesty. Our role now is to be enlightening the people on the
many advantages of the chieftaincy review."
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