Loyalists of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and former governor of Oyo State, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja have been warned not to try to run ahead of destiny by talking about ascension to the throne of Olubadan less than a day after the coronation of a new Oba.
The Ibadan L’Agba Group gave this warning on Saturday, following media reports that the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, is trying to prevent Ladoja from ascending the throne.
The group, in a statement signed by its chairman and secretary, Alhaji Ligali Baoku and Mr. Sola Jinadu, frowned on the report, which claimed that the state government reviewed the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration to bar the Otun Olubadan from ascending to the throne.
The group, while praying for longevity and good health for the new Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, wondered why any person would open the topic of becoming Olubadan when a new Oba has just been crowned.
According to the group, it was equally wild for sponsors of the report to claim that a process undertaken by the state government and widely reported in 2023 was targeted at Ladoja, stating that the law is a respecter of no one and as such, High Chief Ladoja could not be made a scapegoat by a law that is bigger than him.
The group advised sponsors of the report to stop hiding behind a shadow by telling the world their true intentions, wondering why Ladoja’s camp has suddenly become jittery and is now sponsoring falsehood against Governor Makinde, a true son of Ibadan, who has done everything to uphold its tradition and the fullest of its glory.
According to the group, the media report that Makinde reviewed the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration to stop High Chief Ladoja smacked of mischief and evil intentions, as the entire process of the review followed due process and was well-accepted by Ibadan indigenes.
The group maintained that it expects High Chief Ladoja to call all his loyalists and sympathisers to order so as not to bring Ibadanland into disrepute, saying the world-acclaimed succession system of Ibadan royalty has not been tampered with by the government.
It added that the sponsors of the report clearly acted on a predetermined plot, noting that they must be the individuals Makinde said had been put to shame during the presentation of staff of office to Oba Olakulehin, as according to the governor, they were always looking for things to divide the people.
The statement said in part: “We read with disdain a media report obviously sponsored by sympathisers of Otun Olubadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, targeting Governor Makinde for allegedly plotting to stop him from becoming Olubadan.
“The said report claimed that the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, which was reviewed last year, was done to stop High Chief Ladoja from becoming Olubadan. We find this claim baseless and ridiculous.
“While we were confounded that some unscrupulous elements could start campaigning for the Olubadan throne as if it were a political seat, choosing this moment that all Ibadan sons and daughters are celebrating the coming of a new Olubadan is ill-timed and reveals the evil in the minds of the sponsors and publishers of the report.
“The said report, as published in some local blogs, claimed that Governor Makinde caused ‘a surreptitious amendment to be made to the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration by the House of Assembly.’
“It quoted Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration as well as the Section 4 of the amended Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration and then concluded that the state government erred in distributing the said gazette to the public at the Olubadan coronation.
“The plot being played by the publishers of the report can only confuse the uninformed. As trueborns of Ibadan, we know those trying to hide behind a finger and we are warning them now to back off that inglorious path.
“The first question we would like to ask them is: Was the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration reviewed on Friday at the coronation event? No. The process was concluded in 2023 and was well-accepted by Ibadan sons and daughters, who welcomed the much-needed change with open arms.
“The second question was whether High Chief Ladoja was aware of the law and what was his reaction? The former governor went to court over the Olubadan chieftaincy review. But he also chose of his volition to withdraw the matter from court. If he wants to become Olubadan he knows what to do. He should follow the process laid down by the gazetted declaration or return to challenging it in court. Whichever way, he should tell his sympathisers to stop acting as if the Olubadan stool is vacant.
“We know the intentions of those behind the report. They are the divisive elements that Gov Makinde made reference to at Mapo.
“Any well-intentioned Ibadan man must agree that Governor Makinde deserves the credits for midwifing the ascension of two Olubadan and ensuring that the enduring legacy of the Ibadan traditional system continues despite all odds.President Tinubu gave him the deserved accolades for this and so should every Ibadan indigene.
“But we know that those behind this report cannot be happy; their evil intentions have been uncovered and they will continue to fail. These people do not recognise that it is God that crowns kings and if He so wishes that Ladoja will become Olubadan, no one can stop Him. But his loyalists must wait for his time and stop polluting the system.
“That report, to say the least, was aimed at detracting from the glorious coronation of Oba Olakulehin and the success of the Makinde government in putting it up, because they were not happy that it happened. They have tried all sorts, including lying about Makinde not being ready to approve the appointment of Oba Olakulehin and even reading senseless meanings into a routine cabinet reshuffle that should be a government business.”