Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has been warned not to derail the administration of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde with his self-conceited and confused agenda on the controversial amendment to the Oyo State Chiefs Law.
A socio-political group, the Oke Ogun Frontiers, gave the warning on Saturday, stating that Ladoja’s attempt to dress the controversial rotational chairmanship clause as the best to happen to Oyo State was self-conceited, selfish and unnecessary.
The group, in a statement signed by its President, Arch. Lawal Akanmu and the secretary, Chief Amos Ayantokun, advised Governor Makinde not to follow Ladoja’s reasoning, as he himself did not implement the same agenda he is now espousing when he was governor of Oyo State.
According to the group, it was sad that Ladoja, who is respected as one of the fathers of the state, could attempt to rubbish history and make wild claims banking on population figures rather than history, stating that the history of Yorubaland supports Alaafin’s permanent chairmanship of the council.
The group declared that since Ladoja is now pushing to make Olubadan rotate chairmanship with Alaafin, citing the population of Ibadan, Oke Ogun Obas should be included in the rotational chairmanship arrangement, since Oke Ogun’s population is second to that of Ibadan and it has 10 councils.
The statement said: “We read the statement of Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja over the controversial rotational chairmanship clause within the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. The statement, to say the least, was irresponsible, self-serving and dangerous.
“While we believe that it should not have come from an individual of Senator Ladoja’s standing, we are particularly disappointed that someone who governed Oyo State for four years and who respected history by not tampering with the traditional institution in Oyo State is now pushing for same because he wants to become Olubadan and lord himself over everyone.
“We would like to sound a note of caution to Governor Makinde; he should not allow Ladoja to mislead him due to his selfishness. The amendments to the Oyo State Chiefs Law as carried out by the House of Assembly are ill-advised and would cause crisis if the law is assented.
“It is particularly sad that Senator Ladoja, who we know to be quite cerebral, allowed his selfishness to make him illogical. He said the chairmanship of the council should be rotated among Alaafin, Olubadan and Soun, citing the population of Ibadan and the number of local governments it has.
“The question is if we are to use the population and number of councils, why is he not advocating that Obas from Oke Ogun should also be part of the rotational arrangement?
“Ladoja premised his argument on Ibadan having 11 local governments, but Oke Ogun also has 10 local governments and its population is second to Ibadan, therefore, Aseyin of Iseyin, Okere of Saki, Iba of Kisi, Onjo of Okeho and Alepata of Igboho, in no particular order, should also become chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs at some point, since Oke Ogun’s population is more than that of Oyo and Ogbomoso.
“What we are saying in essence is that Oyo State is a historical state; we have history and tradition and that history must not be sacrificed because of selfishness or politics. Alaafin is the only Oba in Oyo State, if not the entire Yorubaland, that ruled over an empire. He should, naturally, be the only one referred to as His Imperial Majesty and no Oba, we repeat; no Oba is in his status in the state.
“We call on Senator Ladoja to go back to his history books; those who made Alaafin permanent chairman of the council knew that Ibadan was big and has always been the political capital of the South-West Region and later Oyo State, but they followed history and tradition and there has been peace in the state.
“We also call on Governor Makinde not to allow Ladoja to destroy his good name through this dangerous and selfish agenda. The governor should ask Ladoja why he didn’t effect the change he is now championing when he had the opportunity.”
