Free Speech Is Not a Crime: Mogajis, Retract Your Threats — Dare Adeleke
A former political office holder, Dare Adeleke, has defended his criticism of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, over alleged partisan political activities, insisting that he will not be intimidated into silence.
Adeleke stated this in a reaction to a response reportedly issued by a group identified as the Mogajis of Ibadan over his recent comments concerning the Olubadan.
He maintained that his comments were protected by the constitutional right to freedom of expression and were not intended to insult the traditional institution.
In his words: “Since the last time I checked, freedom of speech was still entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and every citizen has the right to express his or her views freely, provided such expression does not contravene the laws of the land.”
Adeleke said he stood by his earlier observations that the Olubadan had made comments and taken actions which, in his view, could reasonably be interpreted as support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He cited a report published by Vanguard quoting the Olubadan as saying that President Tinubu deserves to remain in office for a long term.
Adeleke said: “Is it not a matter of public record that the Olubadan has, at the very least, made comments that could reasonably be interpreted as an endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?”
He argued that such comments, coupled with the monarch’s reported interactions with APC leaders, were sufficient to raise questions about his political neutrality, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Adeleke also questioned the reported exclusion of Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, and his deputy from the flag-off of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road dualisation project.
He said he expected the Olubadan, regarded as the traditional father of Ibadan people, to publicly express concern over what he described as a breach of protocol.
According to him, “When the governor and his deputy were reportedly not invited to an event involving the Olubadan, who is traditionally regarded as the father of the people of Ibadan, one would have expected the royal father to question such a glaring breach of protocol and propriety.”
The former political office holder also rejected allegations that his article constituted an attack on Oba Ladoja, insisting that he accorded the monarch the respect expected of the occupant of the Olubadan stool.
He said: “For the record, I never abused or made any provocative statement against our revered Kabiyesi. My only advice was that Baba should not be partisan.”
Adeleke argued that disagreement with the monarch’s political position should not prevent citizens from expressing their opinions or questioning actions they consider to be in the public interest.
He also rejected what he described as threats contained in the statement attributed to the Mogajis, arguing that traditional titles and palace affiliations do not give anyone the authority to intimidate citizens or deny them their constitutional rights.
He said: “Titles and palace affiliations do not confer a licence to intimidate citizens into silence. Whatever traditional roles they may perform within the palace structure, they do not possess some mythical authority to suspend the constitutional and other legal rights of other Ibadan people.”
Adeleke urged the Mogajis to respond to his arguments with facts and counterarguments rather than threats, saying those who disagree with his position were free to issue a rejoinder or present contrary evidence.
He stated: “If the Mogajis disagree with my interpretation of those facts, they are perfectly entitled to say so. They can write a rejoinder, present contrary evidence, challenge my arguments or engage me intellectually. What they cannot do is substitute threats for reason.”
Adeleke further alleged that the revered Olubadan stool was being used for partisan political purposes, a development he said he would resist.
He maintained that respect for traditional institutions should not translate into blind obedience, arguing that traditional rulers, like other public figures, should be open to legitimate criticism.
According to him, “When an Oba errs, he can and should be called to account. That is not an attack on the institution; if anything, honest criticism strengthens the institution by reminding those who occupy traditional stools that they remain accountable to the people they lead.”
Adeleke said he would continue to speak against what he considers political interference with traditional institutions and insisted that he would not be intimidated into silence.
He called on the Mogajis to retract what he described as threats against him, declaring that he was nobody’s stooge.
In his words: “Nobody can threaten me. I am nobody’s stooge. You cannot shut my mouth. I will not be intimidated into silence.”
Adeleke said he would continue to express his views on issues affecting Ibadan and Oyo State, insisting that truth should be spoken irrespective of the status of those involved.
The Statement read:
“Since the last time I checked, freedom of speech was still entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and every citizen has the right to express his or her views freely, provided such expression does not contravene the laws of the land.
“I read the response issued by the group calling itself the Mogajis Ibadan with a mixture of amusement and disbelief, particularly at the threats, bluster and vituperation contained in it.
“Yes, I wrote an article accusing the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, of partisanship and of openly showing support for the APC.
“I stand by my observations, and I would genuinely like to understand why that glaring reality has caused such an uproar.
“Is it not a matter of public record that the Olubadan has, at the very least, made comments that could reasonably be interpreted as an endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
I quote from a Vanguard report:
“Tinubu Deserves to be President for Long Term” – Olubadan
“That report concerns remarks made by the Olubadan at the flag-off of the Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode road dualisation project. Anyone can click on the report and read the Olubadan’s comments for themselves.
“The facts are there in black and white; no amount of manufactured outrage by palace functionaries can make them disappear.
“More importantly, when the governor and his deputy were reportedly not invited to an event involving the Olubadan- who is traditionally regarded as the father of the people of Ibadan – one would have expected the royal father to question such a glaring breach of protocol and propriety.
He did not.
“The inability, or unwillingness, of the Olubadan to publicly chide the organisers over such an obvious irregularity naturally raises questions about where his sympathies and priorities lie. Asking those questions is not an insult to the throne. It is legitimate public commentary.
“Is it also untrue that the Olubadan has hosted APC chairmen and leaders at his palace?
“If that happened, why should pointing it out suddenly become an offence? This is a political season, and it is already clear that Baba has decided President Tinubu is his preferred candidate.
As an Ibadan man, we are making it known that our candidate is Governor Seyi Makinde.
“The Mogajis who signed that clear threat to my person and safety must understand one basic fact – titles and palace affiliations do not confer a licence to intimidate citizens into silence. Whatever traditional roles they may perform within the palace structure, they do not possess some mythical authority to suspend the constitutional and other legal rights of other Ibadan people.
“Are they suggesting that if the Olubadan were to pose a threat to me or my family, I should simply keep quiet because he is the Olubadan? If the Olubadan commits an infraction, or exhibits what I consider to be open partisanship, are all Ibadan people expected to zip their mouths and pretend not to see it?
“No, it is not done in Ibadan land.
“The people of Ibadan are not known for cowardice, sycophancy or intellectual servitude. We respect our traditional institutions, but respect does not mean blind obedience, and reverence does not require us to surrender our conscience.
“When an Oba errs, he can and should be called to account. That is not an attack on the institution; if anything, honest criticism strengthens the institution by reminding those who occupy traditional stools that they remain accountable to the people they lead.
“I will therefore not remain silent when I believe our traditional institution is being used, wittingly or unwittingly, to endorse the disrespect of our elected government or to provide cover for individuals and interests that show scant regard for the people of Ibadan. Indeed, it was comical to see a write-up from the so-called “Association of Mogajis”.
A group I have reservations about because it is unregistered and unconstitutional, yet they are being used as a political tool at election season.
“Undoubtedly, Oba Ladoja is our father, the custodian of our traditions and the occupant of a revered stool. In all my articles, I have accorded him the respect that office deserves, and my last article was no different. For the record: I never abused or made any provocative statement against our revered Kabiyesi.
“My only advice was that Baba should not be partisan. Fact is, The APC is using the sacred stool of Olubadan to perpetuate illegality, and we will vehemently resist it.
“There were no insults. There was simply an expression of my opinion and a presentation of what I consider to be facts that are already in the public domain.
“If the Mogajis disagree with my interpretation of those facts, they are perfectly entitled to say so. They can write a rejoinder, present contrary evidence, challenge my arguments or engage me intellectually. What they cannot do is substitute threats for reason.
“Truth is constant. We will continue to speak truth to power, regardless of how highly placed the individual involved may be.
“We will not sit back and watch our state being politically surrendered to the APC while those who should defend the dignity and interests of our people remain silent. And we will continue to call out the lackeys, apologists and enablers of what we perceive to be the systematic disrespect of our institutions and symbols.
“Therefore, the Mogajis Ibadan would do well to retract their threats immediately or Why are the Mogajis crying more than the “omo oloku”?
“If this is part of APC’s strategy to shut up the opposition by hiding behind Kabiyesi’s sacred stool, we will not keep quiet.
Nobody can threaten me.
“I am nobody’s stooge.
The Mogajis should face their responsibility in their various compounds.
“You cannot shut my mouth.
I am nobody’s stooge and will not be intimidated into silence.
Dare Adeleke writes from Ibadan.
