Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde has cautioned against disunity regarding the Olubadan stool succession.
The Governor maintained that there were no conflicts within the Olubadan chieftaincy laws as speculated by many, and urged individuals to desist from creating unnecessary discord.
Makinde, who hosted members of the Executive Council (Exco) and other top government functionaries at his Ikolaba home for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, stressed the importance of discipline, and warned against actions that could lead to political tensions in the state.
According to him, he was yet to receive any official communication regarding the nomination for the Olubadan stool from the Olubadan-in-Council, and questioned why certain individuals were creating division along traditional lines.
The Governor said despite the numerous calls regarding some alleged conflicts in the ascension to the Olubadan throne, he would await the report and nomination of a candidate from the Olubadan-in-Council.
He assured that he would take appropriate actions in the best interest of the Olubadan stool and the welfare of Ibadanland.
His words:
“We want unity in our state. I had been away outside the country, travelling to seek investors for the state. When I came back, people called me, saying there were issues on the Ibadan Traditional System. I asked them what the issue was. I asked them if they had done the nomination and sent any letter to the government. So I asked, why heating up the polity?
“One of the lessons of the just concluded Ramadan is discipline. We disciplined our body and refrained from what seems beneficial to us in line with what God expects from us.
“So, no matter how highly placed, we must show discipline. Why overheating the polity? If you bring a letter to me, I will take a decision based on what is in the best interest of our state and Ibadanland. You haven’t done that, you have been assembling people, saying all sorts of things.
“Who are the people behind creating disunity among us? Please I want to take this opportunity of this celebration to say that the lesson that we should learn is to be disciplined, just the way we have disciplined our body during the 30 days.
“Let me say it clearly, there is no issue with the Ibadan traditional system. We were in a difficult situation before the late Olubadan ascended the throne. We resolved it. This one, we will also resolve it.”
“I use this medium to greet us all on the celebration. We thank God for the privilege because we were all at the Eid ground today, if it were to be some years ago, there would have been chaos coming from the prayers. We are today more united and better.
“We went through that in Oyo State, but we have a new Oyo State. We all went there peacefully to thank God and we returned safely. It is a new Oyo State.
“Don’t we all like what is happening in the state? What I will say is that, for those who are fond of being where disunity is, they have done it in the past in the political space and they mustn’t take it to our traditional system,” he stated.
Recall that since the demise of the former Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun on March 14 after reigning for two years, controversies have continued to surround the ascension of a new Olubadan.
Recently, the Otun Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Abimbola Ajibola, declared that according to tradition, the next Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, is not yet ready to assume the throne.
Ajibola emphasied his role as the second-in-command and lieutenant to the Olubadan, adding that he was yet to receive any communication from Oba Olakulehin indicating his readiness to resume his duties.
Ajibola criticised the attempts to force Oba Olakulehin into the role due to personal interests, describing it as selfish.
“I am his second-in-command, I’m his lieutenant. He has not called me to say, ‘My Otun, I’m back. So, tell your people. And when are you seeing me?’ They are just forcing him because of their own selfish interest,” Ajibola said.