By Adesakin Adefemi
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, have firmly dismissed allegations made by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, over an alleged plot to dethrone the monarch as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Fayose had earlier taken to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to allege that Governor Makinde was planning to remove Oba Ladoja from office, claiming the monarch could be queried for not attending the recent elevation ceremony of High Chief Sharafadeen Ali to the status of Obas in Ibadan.
In separate responses, both the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan Palace described the claims as unfounded, misleading, and entirely baseless. The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Dotun Oyelade, categorically debunked the allegation, stating that the government has never contemplated, discussed, or initiated any such move.
Oyelade said the allegation was a desperate attempt at propaganda, adding that Nigerians know who and what to believe, especially when the information comes from a particular quarter. He urged the public to disregard the claims, which he described as politically motivated speculation aimed at causing unnecessary tension.
The media aide to the Olubadan, Adeola Oloko, also described the allegation as a baseless rumour, emphasizing that there is no rift between Governor Makinde and the revered monarch. Oloko stated that it would be most unfortunate if the allegation was not just a rumour, adding that he doesn’t see any cause for friction between the governor and the Olubadan.
Both the state government and the palace reaffirmed the existing cordial relationship between Governor Makinde and Oba Ladoja, urging the public to disregard the claims. They emphasized that the allegations were aimed at causing unnecessary tension and destabilizing the peace in the state.
The Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, is a respected traditional ruler and a prominent figure in Oyo State politics. The allegations made by Fayose have been widely condemned, with many calling for him to retract his statement and apologize to the governor and the Olubadan.
The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many taking to Twitter to express their opinions on the matter. While some have supported Fayose’s claims, others have dismissed them as baseless and politically motivated.
