• No rancour over stool –Gov • Kingmakers’ll meet tomorrow -Ladoja
By Seye Ojo
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, have finally broken their silence on the ongoing controversy surrounding the appointment of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Speaking separately to journalists in Ibadan, both Makinde and Ladoja called for unity and cautioned against actions that could further divide the people.
Governor Makinde declared that there was no cause for alarm over the selection of the next Olubadan, warning individuals peddling divisive tendencies over the matter to desist from such acts.
He maintained that the due process on the matter includes the nomination of the next Olubadan by the Olubadan-in-Council and the forwarding of the same to his office, which is yet to be done.
Governor Makinde spoke when his deputy, Bayo Lawal, led Muslim Government Representatives and other Muslim functionaries on a visit to his Ikolaba residence, shortly after praying at the Eid Praying Ground, Agodi, Ibadan.
He added that once the Ibadan Chieftaincy System runs its full course, the government will take the necessary decision in the best interest of Ibadanland and Oyo State.
“Some people have kept talking about the Ibadan Chieftaincy System, saying it has got issues and all of that. But I said the Obas-in-Council are yet to make their nomination. When they make it, it will come to me and I will either say yes or no. But that has not happened. So, why are people focusing on things that are capable of dividing us? Those whose stock in trade is to keep looking for what to divide us should look for something else to do. They should rather focus on things that will unite us.”
Addressing newsmen after Eid-el-Fitri prayer at his residence in Ibadan, Ladoja faulted the position of some Ibadan High Chiefs over the health status of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
He said the comments were mere expression of personal opinions since the chiefs were not medical personnel.
Otun Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abimbola Ajibola was recently quoted by media as saying the Olubadan designate is sick and needs time to get well before his coronation.
“Has anyone seen him since last Friday? Those who attempted to visit him after Friday were unsuccessful. They are coercing him. We should allow him to recuperate”, he said.
However, Ladoja told newsmen that such views were speculative and not based on medical facts.
“The comments of Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola and others on the health status of Olubadan-designate are mere personal opinions which should be disregarded. All persons who have been speaking on Olubadan designate’s health are not medical personnel thereby they lack merits to speak. Only God can determine lifespan, who will become king and how long a person will last on the throne.”
The former governor said that a meeting to take decision on issues concerning Olubadan stool has been fixed for Friday.
He said that the case he filed in court on issues bordering on the Olubadan stool was to defend his right against the threat by some Ibadan High Chiefs that collected the crown because he refused to join them.
He expressed his willingness to withdraw the case once they cooperate with him in the interest of peace in Ibadanland.
Ladoja said that if he eventually becomes Olubadan of Ibadanland, he would not victimise any High Chief that purportedly collected.
“There are standing rules forbidding other people to wear crowns in the Olubadan palace except Olubadan alone. The crown collected by Ibadan High Chiefs are just to enhance their prestige, which does not affect Olubadan tradition and process.
“They are free to wear their crown as they like but not in Olubadan’s palace because there cannot be two people wearing crown in Olubadan palace.”
Ladoja said there was a need to revisit reports of the 2014 National Conference saying that the report had taken care of many issues that the country is currently facing.
He urged Muslims not to stop all their good works after the Holy month of Ramadan and urged Nigerians not to relent in praying for their leaders at all levels for God’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Governor Makinde has congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the 30 days Ramadan fast and appreciated them for their support and for the peace and harmony being enjoyed in the state.
Noting that the new Oyo State has been renowned for peace, unity and harmony, he admonished individuals bent on dividing the state with religion to take their trade elsewhere.
He equally charged the people to imbibe discipline as one of the lessons learnt in the month of Ramadan.
He said: “I want to use this opportunity to greet our Muslim brothers and sisters and to wish all of us a happy Eid-el-Fitri celebration.
“One of the lessons of Ramadan is discipline, because for these last 30 days, we disciplined our bodies. Though the body was seeking nutrients and food, we said no for the duration of the fasting. So, it is a lesson we have to imbibe in our daily life.
“We should also use this experience to settle our differences with people around us. We are all together and united now, as it is a new Oyo State where everybody is coming on board.
“Those whose stock in trade is to keep looking for what to divide us should look for something else to do. They should rather focus on things that will unite us.”
He charged the electorate to go out en masse and vote for their leaders at the grassroots level in the forthcoming local government election slated for April 27,.
He maintained that the April 27 election would make it the second time his government is conducting the local government elections in less than five years, whereas the previous administration in the state did not conduct local government elections for seven years out of its eight-year tenure.
He said: “For the forthcoming local government election, our people should come out and vote. It is less than three weeks away.
“And for those trying to look for negative narratives, they did not conduct local government election for seven years out of the eight years their party spent in office. But we have done one and we are doing another one.
“We are not allowing any gap. It was planned and we funded it, because we want to show that that level of governance is as serious as other levels.”
Earlier in his message, the Deputy Governor, who spoke on behalf of the Muslim delegation, appreciated Governor Makinde for his uncommon leadership, saying his ascension to the office of Governor as ordained by God.
He equally thanked the governor for engendering religious harmony in the state.
Special prayer was offered by Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, Sheik Hashim Atere, for the governor and the entire people of the state.
Muslim functionaries in attendance included a former Deputy Governor of the state and National Deputy Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Muhammed Fadeyi.
Others were council chairmen from Ibadanland, state PDP leaders and other government functionaries, among others.