Ibadan-Ijebu Flag Off: Adeleke under fire for alleging partisanship against Olubadan

The traditional Institution of Ibadanland including the traditional rulers, Chiefs ,Mogajis, Baales, the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), and sons and daughters of the City have condemned a chieftain of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and ally of Governor Seyi Makinde, Dare Adeleke, over his recent outburst against the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The condemnation followed Adeleke’s comments on the Olubadan’s role during the flag-off of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road project yesterday .

The traditional institution described Adeleke’s remarks as “not just an insult to the Olubadan himself, but to the entire Ibadanland and the Yoruba race as a whole.”

They said the revered stool of the Olubadan represents the history, culture and unity of Ibadan and must be accorded the respect due to it by all residents, irrespective of political affiliation.

Recall that Adeleke, in a widely circulated write-up, alleged that the Olubadan was playing partisan politics. He accused the monarch of hosting the APC National Chairman in his palace and attending the flag-off of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road without Governor Makinde in attendance. Adeleke also claimed the Olubadan was not playing a fatherly role expected of a respected traditional ruler.

Reacting, the President of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, and the Coordinator of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), Mogaji Dr. Nurudeen Akinade, demanded an immediate retraction of Adeleke’s statement and a public apology to the Olubadan of Ibadanland. They said the comments were reckless and capable of heating the polity.

According to the duo, no true son of Ibadanland would insult the Olubadan in the manner Adeleke did.

They questioned his claim to Ibadan indigenship, saying such utterances do not reflect the values of respect for elders and traditional institutions that Ibadan people are known for.
“As a traditional ruler that want development of his town, so, Olubadan shouldn’t have attended the event? Olubadan was there during the N30b Bodija bomb blast Saga, he never go against Makinde, Olubadan was there during the circular road crisis, he did go against the governor. The two events has been reportedly claim the live of several people, yet Kabiyesi didn’t issue any statements against the Government. Kabiyesi has not been able to officially preside over the Oyo State council of Obas and Chiefs, for reason best known to the concerned Authority, did Adeleke hear anything from the Palace

“Federal government invited Olubadan to the flag off of the road just as other dignitaries were invited, Olubadan was not the one that stop federal government from inviting Makinde to the event.

“70% of Adeleke’s write up was an insult to the stool of Olubadan, all what he said is bigger than his father mouth.

“His insult to the Olubadan is an insult to the entire Ibadanland and Yorubaland in general, we even doubt his Ibadan indegienship because no true son of Ibadan will ever insult Olubadan in such way he did

“Even when Olubadan was speaking at the event, he acknowledge governor Makinde despite not been at the event.

The leaders further noted that the Olubadan, as a father to all, has the right to receive leaders of all political parties and to attend developmental projects in Ibadanland without being dragged into partisan politics.

They added that the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road is a project that benefits the people, and the monarch’s presence was in the interest of the city.

The leaders called on all political actors in Oyo State to desist from dragging the palace into politics

They urged stakeholders to join hands with Governor Makinde and other leaders to ensure peace and development in Ibadanland, while also preserving the dignity of the traditional institution.