Those bent on ensuring that he has no such power and influence in both parties include his former friend turned foe, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Wike is being ably assisted by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The wife of a former governor in the state, Abiola Ajimobi, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, is also very much interested in having a say on who becomes the next Governor of the state.  Again, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, is also another powerful name that is equally interested in having a say in the governorship rumble.

When ambition and interest of powerful individuals collide, especially in partisan politics, there is bound to be conflicts and intrigues. That is what is presently playing out in the Pacesetter State.

Just last year, and while speaking at the 11th Omititun Annual Ramadan Lecture, Makinde told his audience that he would unveil his preferred candidate for the PDP governorship race by January this year. The Governor has repeatedly said that he will play a key role in choosing the party’s candidate. By March, 2026, instead of naming the person after his heart, Makinde came up with the qualities he is looking for in his preferred candidate. However, at the 12th Omituntun Annual Ramadan Public Lecture in 2026, Makinde, again, flipped the conversation. Instead of naming his successor as promised, he said that party members and residents would have to wait a little longer.

According to him, his successor will be chosen based on competence and loyalty to Oyo State, not personal allegiance. He emphasised that loyalty to the state is crucial, citing examples of past leaders who faced challenges after installing successors who weren’t loyal to the state.

What he is not telling the people is that the PDP has been crippled by the internal disagreements between Wike on one hand, and Makinde, alongside Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state on the other, as the only Governors left in the party. In the lead-up to the 2023 general election, the party had 12 governors, but after the 2023 general election, PDP produced just nine Governors. These states included Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, Rivers, Zamfara, and Enugu. The internal crisis which split the party into two led to the defection of many of the Governors to the ruling APC.

Though a close ally of Wike, as he was part of the five PDP Governors that worked against the party in 2023, Makinde has distanced himself from Wike, who has also vowed to pay close attention to who succeeds him as Governor.

The high-wired politics of the state took an ugly turn when Makinde chose to crown three Ibadan High Chiefs as Obas. Ordinarily, that should be good news to those concerned, as they were due for the promotion after the death of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin and the enthronement of Oba Ladoja. The affected chiefs are Sharafadeen Alli, Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin, and Oyekola Babalola. The trio notified the State Government that they would not be able to attend the scheduled ceremony and sought a new date, preferably after the gubernatorial primaries of political parties.

But Makinde would hear none of that, and went ahead to crown the Obas in their absence. In taking that unconventional stance, Makinde was bent on simply stopping Sharafadeen Alli from becoming his successor next year. Alli is a prominent aspirant in the APC. Once crowned as an Oba in Ibadan, he can no longer partake in partisan politics according to the State’s Oba and Chieftaincy Law. Although the Nigerian constitution does not give room for such, as there are several traditional rulers that have been elected and sworn into political offices in the past, that of Oyo State is unique.

In their absence, Alli was conferred with the title of Ekaarun Balogun of Ibadanland, while Adewoyin and Babalola were installed as Ekeerin Balogun and Ekaarun Olubadan of Ibadanland respectively.

The development has since provoked widespread debate amongst legal practitioners, scholars, and traditional authorities, centering on whether a traditional ruler can be validly installed in absentia under Nigerian Law. On the day the three Obas were installed, the Olubadan also stayed away from the venue after informing Makinde that the three chiefs had written to him that they would not be part of the process. That development angered Makinde, who, Fayose alleged, began contemplating his dethronement.

The former Governor wrote on social media that: “I heard reliably that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is plotting the removal of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. The plot is to commence this week, with Government Query to be issued against the Olubadan, citing his absence at the failed coronation of High Chiefs in Ibadanland two weeks ago, amidst other allegations. As for us, we will be watching the Sìgìdì of Seyi Makinde tó fẹ́ se eré ẹ̀tẹ́…”

Both Makinde and Ladoja immediately denied any dethronement plot, but few days later, Fayose was in Ibadan to meet Oba Ladoja, with whom he held a closed-door meeting. At the end of the meeting, he confirmed to the media that the plan to dethrone Olubadan was real.

Prior to Fayose’s visit to the Olubadan, there was another rumbling on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly when the Speaker and some members were alleged to be planning an impeachment move against Makinde, and that they were being sponsored by Olubadan and Ajimobi’s widow – Florence.

However, Oba Rashidi Ladoja has denied any involvement, describing the allegation as false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary tension in the state. In a statement issued by his media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, the monarch warned against dragging the revered Olubadan throne into political disputes, stressing that such claims were illogical and unfounded. He noted that it was constitutionally impossible for a traditional ruler to remove a sitting Governor, adding that even a Local Government Chairman could not be impeached by any traditional authority. Ladoja reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the dignity of the traditional institution and urged political actors to desist from involving the throne in partisan controversies.

Similarly, Dr. Florence Ajimobi, in a statement issued by her media office, dismissed the allegations as “entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate act of disinformation” aimed at tarnishing her image and misleading the public. She denied ever hosting, attending, or participating in any meeting—whether in Lagos or elsewhere —where discussions on impeachment or destabilisation of the Oyo State Government were allegedly held. “At no time did Ambassador Ajimobi convene or participate in any such meeting,” the statement read, adding that the claims were “malicious political propaganda” intended to damage her reputation, particularly amongst the people of Oyo State.

Since the demise of her husband, Mrs. Ajimobi has become a formidable force in Oyo State politics as she has picked up considerable power and influence. Nobody gets anything in the state without her influence, following her ‘inheritance’ of the political structure of her late husband. This fact was further demonstrated when President Bola Tinubu appointed her as Ambassador to Austria. It is a well-known fact in Oyo’s political circle that ‘’Mama ni interest” (loosely meaning Mama has interest in whatever political gains that is being doled out).

However, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, confirmed that he was indeed, approached with a monetary inducement but he categorically rejected it. Dismissing claims that he received funds from APC-linked proxies to facilitate impeachment moves, the Speaker described the allegation as false, misleading, and politically motivated. “I was offered monetary inducement, but I declined without hesitation, because no amount of money can buy my conscience or compromise my loyalty to the Governor, the party, and the people we were elected to serve. I remain fully committed to upholding the integrity of this House and will not be part of any agenda aimed at destabilising the government,” he added.

Who are those offering him money to impeach Makinde? He wasn’t bold enough to name names.

Now, Sharafadeen Alli is being positioned as the APC consensus candidate in Oyo. Alli, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under Rashidi Ladoja, has long been regarded as a strategic force within his political camp.

On the side of the APC, Teslim Folarin continues to stand out as a key figure. A former Senator and the party’s candidate in the last governorship election, Folarin has sustained political relevance through youth empowerment initiatives and social intervention programmes. He also serves as an ambassador of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Another high-profile name is Adebayo Adelabu, the current Minister of Power. However, recent developments suggest that Adelabu may be retreating from his governorship ambition. With President Tinubu’s directive that any cabinet member seeking elective office must resign, Adelabu appears to have recognised the political realities ahead.

There are indications that he may no longer be willing to relinquish his ministerial position; a move widely interpreted as an acknowledgment that his gubernatorial ambition may have hit a significant roadblock.

Not to be overlooked is Taofeek Arapaja of the PDP, who possesses deep political roots and enduring influence capable of shaping the direction of the race as alliances begin to crystalize.

Within the PDP, is Adedeji Stanley Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo, who has emerged as a prominent contender. As a serving member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan-North and Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency, Olajide has built a reputation as a grassroots politician with a modern, technology-driven governance outlook.

His growing popularity, particularly within Ibadan, coupled with his international exposure, places him in a competitive position within the PDP. Also in the PDP is Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a former governorship candidate in Ogun State, who has openly declared his ambition to govern Oyo State.

Ajadi has anchored his aspiration on administrative experience and a commitment to accelerating development, though questions remain regarding the depth of his political structure within Oyo state.

With May 31st set for all the political parties to pick their candidates for all the elective offices by INEC fast approaching, it remains to be seen how Makinde intends to pull the strings in both the PDP and APC. Political watchers are saying that the PDP is dead and buried and that Makinde may be forced to pitch his tent in other political parties, especially the ADC.

Be that as it may, the rumblings and cold political permutations on who will take over from him next year continues.

See you next week.

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The post The rumblings in Oyo politics, By Kazeem Akintunde appeared first on Frontpageng.

He described the allegation as not only false, but misleading.

The royal father, in a statement issued by his media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, cautioned against dragging the throne of Olubadan into what he described as dirty politics.

Oba Ladoja said it was illogical to suggest that a traditional ruler could have the constitutional authority to remove a sitting governor.

According to him, even a local government chairman cannot be impeached by any traditional ruler.

Ladoja reiterated his commitment to the traditional institution, urging political actors in the state to refrain from involving the revered throne in partisan controversies.

Source: NAN

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The community guard was established to strengthen surveillance and ensure effective policing across the 11 local government areas of Ibadan land.

The event, held at the Palace of the Olubadan, marked a significant step toward enhancing community-based security architecture in response to prevailing challenges in parts of the ancient city.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Olubadan emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding lives and property.

He noted that the community guard would be strategically deployed across the eleven local government areas to complement the efforts of conventional security agencies.

The event also featured the official unveiling of “Garri Ibadan”, an economic and food security initiative driven by the Ibadan Economic Investment and Business Development Desk in collaboration with the Ibadan Food Security Initiative.

The aim was to promote local production, boost economic growth, and ensure food sustainability within the metropolis.

Dignitaries at the event were members of the Olubadan-in-Council, the former Minister of Industry and Iyalaje Iyalode of Ibadanland, Chief Onikepo Akande, and Sen. Sharafadeen Alli.

Others are CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd)  and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadanland, Ajeniyi Ajewole.

Source: NAN

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The visit came less than four months after Oba Ladoja’s installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland in September 2025.

It was also barely 24 hours after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, visited the president at the Presidential Villa.

Details of the closed-door meeting were not officially disclosed.

However, the visit marked Oba Ladoja’s first audience with President Tinubu since ascending the throne.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Olubadan said the visit was to thank the president for attending his installation.

“Since September 26, I have been trying to come and thank him for finding time to attend my installation,” Ladoja said.

Ladoja expressed satisfaction with the direction of the Tinubu administration, citing the president’s track record as former Lagos State governor.

“If you know where he is coming from, you know that he knows what he is doing,” the traditional ruler said.

He noted that while Nigeria’s challenges were more complex than those of a state, progress was being recorded.

Ladoja expressed optimism that ongoing economic reforms would reposition the country positively by the end of Tinubu’s tenure.

The Olubadan urged the federal government to intensify efforts in addressing food security, healthcare and insecurity.

He said insecurity, particularly farmers’ inability to access farmlands, remained a major concern spreading across regions.

“By and large, we believe the president is tackling the problem correctly,” he added.

Ladoja served as Governor of Oyo State from May 2003 to January 2006 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He ascended the throne following the death of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin in July 2025.

The succession followed Ibadan’s rotational chieftaincy system between the civil and military ruling lines.

Source: NAN

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The post Tinubu receives Olubadan in closed-door State House meeting appeared first on Frontpageng.

In the last couple of months following the installation of Oba Akeem Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo, the Ooni of Ifa, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi added new nomenclature for himself. He is no longer just the Ooni of Ife, he now goes about with the unnecessary and mouthful titles of The Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC), Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula, and the Natural Head of the Oduduwa race worldwide.

Not to be outdone by the craze for highfaluting words that actually mean nothing, the Alaafin of Oyo soon added his own. Oba Owoade is now not just the Alaafin of Oyo, but must be addressed as the Paramount Ruler of Oyo Kingdom and the Superior Head of Yorubaland.

Since his installation on April 16, 2025, Oba Owoade has found himself at the centre of a power tussle with the Ooni of Ife over who has the authority to install a chieftaincy title that goes with ‘Yorubaland’. The circus started when Ooni gave a chieftaincy title of ‘Okanlomo’ of the Source to a businessman, Dotun Sanusi. Oba Owoade issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title, claiming that only he has the right to confer Yoruba-wide titles. In the August 25th edition of The Discourse, I had cause to write an open letter to the Alaafin on the need for him to tread with caution, and that what should be uppermost in his mind should be the unity and development of the Yoruba race.

But that open letter seems not to have any meaning to the first-class traditional ruler, as he has been in war-mode with his fellow traditional rulers. As expected, the 48-hour ultimatum given to the Ooni has elapsed and nothing has come of his threat. He however went ahead to install Seyi Tinubu as ‘Okanlomo’ of Yorubaland.

In what appears to be another brewing crisis, this time within the Oyo State Traditional Council, Oba Owoade was conspicuously absent when the state governor, Seyi Makinde, inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as its new Chairman for a two-year period. The governor stated that by virtue of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Law 2025, the Chairman of the Council would now be rotational amongst the three first-class traditional rulers in the state. These are the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Soun of Ogbomoso. He told his audience that following wide consultations, it was agreed that His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadan, should be the first chairman for the next two years.  Makinde’s revelation that the Council had been inactive since 2011 goes to show the root cause of the power tussle amongst Yoruba Obas in Oyo State alone.

Few hours after the inauguration of the Council, Oba Owoade responded, challenging Makinde to provide proof of where they met to discuss the rotational arrangement. His media aide, Dotun Adekanbi, put out this statement: ‘’The Palace hereby wants to state clearly that there was no time that Oba Owoade held any meeting with either the state governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned. Alaafin did not tell the Governor or make a categorical statement on his endorsement of rotational Chairmanship amongst the three traditional rulers in the state. The position of the Alaafin and the entire Oyo Community on the issue of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs has been enunciated in a memo delivered to his Excellency by the Oyo Council of Elders.’’

There is a Yoruba adage that says: Agbalagba ki i se lagbanlagba. Our elders should not continue to behave as children. If they do, they should be sure that the little dignity the office presently enjoys would soon be eroded.

The position of the Oyo Council of Elders according to findings is that the Alaafin should be the permanent Chairman of the Council. That was the same tug-of-war that the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi fought with the now late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade that led to the polarisation of the Council until Osun state was carved out of the old Oyo State.

Few days before Makinde inaugurated the Council, there was a public spat between Alaafin and Oba Ladoja. What began with a seemingly harmless greeting at a state inter-faith event, metastasised into a broader dispute over customary respect, sovereignty of institutions, and historical interpretation of royal standing. At the heart of the current controversy is an incident at the Agodi Government House in Ibadan, where the Alaafin, already seated at a ceremony, extended his hand to greet Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. The Olubadan did not respond and instead, proceeded to greet other dignitaries before calmly taking his seat.

For many present and for observers across the country, the moment spoke volumes about mutual respect and the expectations of protocol. To Ibadan traditional stakeholders, the gesture was more than awkward; it was disrespectful to a monarch whose age, experience, political service, and traditional standing far exceed that of the Alaafin in that setting. Following the episode, Ibadan traditional leaders, including monarchs, Mogajis and Baales, issued a stern warning to the Alaafin of Oyo, describing his conduct as “an embarrassment of the highest order”, and insisting that any further affront would be met with strong resistance from Ibadan’s institutions. They stressed that stretching out a hand to greet the Olubadan while seated was inappropriate and insulting to the Olubadan stool as well as the dignity of the Ibadan traditional establishment. They noted that Olubadan’s seniority in age and contributions as a former Governor, former Senator, and respected elder warrants the highest respect at public functions.

However, the Olubadan, in dousing the tension, said that he actually did not see the hand gesture greeting from the Alaafin and that there was no animosity between them. Traditional institutions in Yorubaland, once revered as the sacred custodians of culture, history, and conflict resolution, have recently faced significant scandals, public ridicule, and an erosion of their sanctity. These scandals often involve political interference, corruption in the selection process of monarchs, and clashes between traditional, religious, and modern authorities.

How to revive the dying traditional institutions that they occupy should be the priority of the traditional rulers, rather than fighting needless wars amongst themselves. It is indeed sad that another first-class traditional ruler in Osun State, The Apetu of Ipetumode, Oba Joseph Oloyede, is presently serving a four-year prison sentence in the United States of America. Oloyede, 62, who holds dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenships, and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26, 2025, handed 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch was also ordered to “serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution. He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of fraud, while an additional $96,006.89, also believed to be proceeds of fraud, was seized.’’

In the same Osun State, another first-class traditional ruler has been caught on video smoking marijuana. One would wonder how they qualify to be custodians of our culture and role models to our youths.

In parts of the South-West, some traditional rulers are heavily involved in illegal mining and land-grabbing, and their support for criminal herders and bandits are well documented. There has been a wave of royal scandals of late, and it is now common to hear a monarch being called out by a victim; arraigned before a court, and even sentenced to jail within and outside Nigeria for malfeasance. How shameful!

Few years ago, the public assault on Abraham Areola, 73, by the traditional ruler of Orile-Ifo, Ogun State, Abdulsemiu Ogunjobi, laid bare, the oppression and subjugation that subjects endure at the hands of some unscrupulous monarchs. A viral video clip showed Ogunjobi with some of his aides, ordering Areola, a Chief, to kneel at the roadside as he was accused of conspiracy and betrayal. The impunity with which the Chief was dehumanised; with his principal raining vituperations and curses on him, drew the ire of many.

Not long ago, the Ogun State Government lamented the proliferation of illegal traditional rulers in the state. That development further confirmed that like other sectors, the traditional institution is not immune to atrocities and fakery. Governor Dapo Abiodun told the third Quarterly Statutory Meeting of the Ogun State Council of Obas that some people were securing fake appointment letters and parading themselves as monarchs without following the stipulated processes and laid down procedures.

In most of these South-West states, some royal fathers have been indicted for arbitrary selling plots of land with deposits of natural resources. This has, in most cases, led to crises between illegal miners and farmers in states like Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo, while some of their counterparts in Lagos and Ogun states are notorious for the illegal mining of sand.

In a move that suggests that the nefarious activities of these monarchs were not going unnoticed, the Oyo State government suspended the Onido of Ido, Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola, over alleged links to the activities of illegal miners in the Ido Local Council of the state.

Many Nigerians are now openly questioning the relevance or otherwise of the traditional institutions in the country. In Yorubaland, where their focus should be on how to revive the dying culture of the race, they are more at home being at loggerheads over irrelevant issues that add little or nothing to their office or improve the lot of their people. The Yoruba dialect is almost dying, but that is not of importance to them. Our culture is on the brinks of collapse but the battle of who is senior and junior is their major priority. Our history is almost eroded but little attention is paid to that.

There is a Yoruba adage that says: Agbalagba ki i se lagbanlagba. Our elders should not continue to behave as children. If they do, they should be sure that the little dignity the office presently enjoys would soon be eroded. Now is the time for them to close ranks and work for the peace, progress, and development of the region. They should not be seen dancing naked in the market place as they are presently doing. A word, they say, is enough for the wise.

See you next week.

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The post The needless traditional rulers power tussle in Yorubaland appeared first on Frontpageng.

Talking of Ibadan, where I served my mandatory one-year NYSC; thereafter enrolling for a post-graduate course in Political Science at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, before going on to kick-start my journalism career at the now defunct Ibadan-based Sketch newspapers, my mind always raced back in time to one of those poems that we read for our West African School Certificate examination – John Pepper Clark’s laconic poem – Ibadan. “Ibadan/Running splash of rust and gold/Flung and scattered among seven Hills/Like broken china in the sun.”

Life is a huge irony! If one Olubadan does not join his ancestors, another Olubadan cannot mount the saddle. The sadness of one, therefore, is the joy of another. Fortunately in Ibadan, they usually depart in ripe old age; the type of transition that we say in Yoruba land is not one of mourning but of the celebration of a life well spent. Long may the king reign!

Ask any Olubadan: My suspicion is that the most joyous day of his life – and his greatest achievement – regardless of whatever other achievements he might have chalked up in life – is the day he ascends the highly exalted throne of his fore-fathers. Every other achievement pales in its significance. And it is not likely that anything he achieves while on that throne will be as momentous and as celebrated as the day he ascends the throne. Incidentally – and that is the irony of life – the next momentous event of his life will be the day he, too, vacates the throne for another person to occupy!

Someone vacated the throne for him. That occasion, without doubt, was momentous in his own life. He, too, will vacate the throne for another person. And the event will also be momentous in the other person’s life. The same rejoicing that was witnessed when the throne became vacant for the present Olubadan to occupy will also be witnessed long, long down the line (we pray), but in another direction. No one can prevent that from happening in the fullness of time, since no one has ever succeeded in preventing it from happening in the past!

The beauty of the Olubadan succession system is that it takes the lucky occupant a long, long wait before it becomes his turn. It is what is called turn-by-turn. So, they usually grow old before it gets to their turn. Another beauty of the system is that while it has embedded in it the “Emilokan” principle, this is also not cast in iron. The next-in-line is known, but only God decides who gets there. Long may the king reign! But I am sure you understand that the other flip of the coin as far as this prayer is concerned is “Long may the next-in-line wait!”

But there is no cheating involved here because every incumbent had also passed through that long wait before it became his turn. Let God grant the incumbent good health and long life to enjoy his long wait, which has now become a reality! And let God grant those coming behind good health and long life to see out their own long wait! The patience to endure the long wait and the fortitude to accept God’s decision on the matter, may the good Lord grant everyone concerned!

As we close, let me make a reference to a podcast which featured Chief Bisi Akande, one-time civilian governor of Osun state, who was asked the yet-to-be-answered trillion-Naira question of “Who killed Bola Ige?“ Ige was a one-time governor of Oyo state, chieftain of the Left-leaning Alliance for Democracy which controlled the politics of the South-west region of Nigeria at the time, and Minister, first of Power, and then of Justice before he was gruesomely murdered on 23 December, 2001 in his home at Ibadan, despite the hordes of security operatives around him.

Let us begin to straighten and elongate the arms of the law here – like they do abroad, where our leaders always run when they want to enjoy the better life they have bluntly refused to replicate here.

Efforts to find Ige’s killers have eluded everyone. Only rumours and speculations fill the air. Mercifully, but sadly in the same breath, Chief Akande took us a step closer to unravelling the mystery by saying, without mincing words, that “Government killed Bola Ige”. He repeated that statement again and again. Which government? Many will understand him to mean the federal government? But how? And why?

While Chief Akande revealed something, he chose to still put a lot more useful information under wraps. Some things you know, you may not reveal but take with you to the grave, he said! Why?  Opportunities to redress wrongs are lost. Chances of doing justice are thrown to the dogs. The need to purify our society and cleanse our conscience is glossed over – all on the altar of wanting to sound and act politically correct! Chief Akande said Ige spoke with him before his assassination, but what Ige told him, he would not say.

The Oyo state governor at the time of Ige’s murder, Comrade Lam Adesina, also reportedly spoke with Chief Akande, but the contents of their discussion, Akande would also not disclose. He said with both men dead, who would be his witness! Instead, he said we should ask Ladoja, who succeeded Lam Adesina as the governor of Oyo state, why he discontinued the court case filed by Lam over the murder of Ige. Would Lam have unravelled the issues surrounding the murder of Ige in open court? Akande said probably! But should a successor-governor’s hands (in this wise, Ladoja’s) be tied over a matter in court or should he be free to review the matter and take whatever he considers the best decision in the circumstance?

We need to know! Because that is how public interest can be served in this matter! Surely, public interest is not served when those who know something choose to keep silent. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”, says Edmund Burke who is believed to have echoed John Stuart Mill’s earlier admonition that “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing”. As they always say on the set of LTV, Ikeja, Lagos, “If you see something, say something!” And I add: Not only say something, do something! Our own Wole Soyinka says “The man dies in all those that keep silent in the face of tyranny”. And what can be more tyrannical than the gruesome murder, in his own bedroom, of a serving Minister of the Federal Republic?

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I wonder how many of our leaders have chosen the path of not standing up to be counted in the arduous task of sanitizing our society. Despite repeated prodding by his interviewer, Chief Akande insisted he would go to his grave with some secrets that he knew. The other day, another ex-governor of Oyo state, Chief Omololu Olunloyo, also doggedly rejected suggestions that he put pen to paper. He knew so much, he said, but would prefer to take everything to his grave; which he did some months ago! Oftentimes, we hear leaders say if they divulge all they know about this country, or even a cent of it, the entire country will go up in flames. Why not, if not? To spill the beans and clean up the Augean stable or keep piling stuff under the carpets – which is more profitable?

Yes, States keep secrets and leaders know the limit of what they can divulge at a particular point in time. That is why some information or documents are described as “classified”. But because enlightened societies also know that public interest is not served if such documents are permanently kept under wraps, they are declassified after a given period. For example, evidence relating to the assassination of the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, on 22 November, 1963, were recently declassified by the US Government.

One critical pillar of Western societies is their relentless pursuit of the public good. No effort is spared and no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of justice. Even if it takes decades and tons of money, they keep pursuing criminals until they are caught and are brought to book. That way, every criminal knows that the chances of getting caught are high, and that they ultimately will face the music. That, alone, is deterrence. And that is why we speak of the “long arms of the law”. That is also why they have the saying: Crime does not pay! Here, however, nothing pays better than crime. Here, the arms of the law are not long at all; they are crooked, miserably short, ineffective, and ineffectual.

Another advantage of a relentless pursuit of truth by the countries of the West is that we have seen cases of historic injustices upturned when new truths and evidence are unearthed. Can we ever have such happen here? Whereas we all complain, especially when we lose our vantage position and are now at the receiving end of the same system we have helped, we are mostly all complicit in the decadence that envelopes our society. If we know the truth but fail to speak, act, pursue or defend it, then, we qualify as part of the hordes of “good men” that Burke and Mill say do nothing but look on while evil men perpetrate and perpetuate their evil.

Therefore, I do not know whether, at this point in time when he has already attained to the very pinnacle of his life-time ambition, Kabiyesi Olubadan will want to take up the challenge thrown his way by his fellow ex-governor, Chief Bisi Akande. Let us begin to straighten and elongate the arms of the law here – like they do abroad, where our leaders always run when they want to enjoy the better life they have bluntly refused to replicate here. It is by so doing that we can make our own society a safer and saner place for all of us – and for generations yet unborn.

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533), former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of the Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the “ON THE LORD’S DAY” column in the Sunday Tribune and “TREASURES” column in the New Telegraph newspapers. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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The emergence of Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, September 26, at the ancient Mapo Hall in the heart of Ibadan, is uncannily symbolic in many respects. The symbolism lies not just in the rare recurrence of the number 44 in his life’s journey—as seen in his year of birth and his position in the lineage of Olubadans—but also in several other significant ways, which I will explore in this piece.

Ladoja was born on September 25, 1944. He emerged as the 44th Olubadan in September 2025. This is more than mere coincidence; it feels like the affirmation of a future foretold. And, like a man destined and prepared for the high position he now occupies, Ladoja was inaugurated in a blaze of elegance and glory.

He rode to Mapo Hill, the site of the historic Mapo Hall, in a gleaming white Rolls-Royce, resplendent in white traditional Aso Oke, with his wives in tow.

Mapo Hill was a sight to behold that day. The people of Ibadan trooped out en masse, swarming the venue, while many others lined the streets leading to Mapo in a bid to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.

Oba Ladoja is, indeed, an uncommon Olubadan. To label him another “Koseleri” in the Ibadan landscape would be most fitting. He is in the mould of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who made history as the first governor of Oyo State to break the second-term jinx. However, this is not about political office or term limits—traditional rulers hold their positions for life. It is about the rare peculiarities of Ladoja’s kingship.

The new Olubadan has a solid pedigree and a rich academic and professional background. A true son of the soil, Ladoja hails from Gambari Village in Ibadan. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Liège in Belgium and spent 13 years working at Mobil before venturing into private practice. Oba Ladoja is in a class of his own. That said, there have been other well-lettered monarchs in Ibadan’s history, such as the 42nd Olubadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, who held a doctorate.

Oba Ladoja is among the few in this country who have headed a government before ascending the throne. His story is similar to that of Alfred Diete-Spiff, who was the first military governor of Rivers State—created from the old Eastern Region—before becoming the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass in Bayelsa State. Ladoja was elected governor of Oyo State in 2003. Earlier, in 1992, he served as a senator representing the Oyo Central District.

As governor, he ran a people-oriented administration that prioritised education, agriculture, housing, and water projects. However, he faced serious challenges from his political godfather, the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, over control of state resources. The conflict led to Ladoja’s sensational impeachment in January 2006, which was later declared null and void by the court. He successfully challenged his removal in court, returning to office in December 2006 to complete his tenure. His determination to overturn the illegality reveals another facet of the new monarch: his faith in constitutional processes and his confidence in the courts as a means of redress.

Last week, at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan, Oba Ladoja recounted the story of his illegal impeachment to this writer and a few friends who visited to pay homage. He spoke of how those who orchestrated his removal as governor did so without the constitutionally required number in the state assembly. He also recalled the invaluable support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during those challenging times and how he ultimately regained his mandate.

“(President) Tinubu arranged for me to move quickly to Lagos after the incident. He put me in a place that was comfortable, safe, and hidden. Even before I arrived, he had assembled a team of legal luminaries to handle my case against the removal. It was such a solid team. We eventually won in court, and I regained my office.”

Given their close relationship and the significance of the Olubadan throne in Yorubaland, it was no surprise that President Tinubu graced Ladoja’s inauguration. The President’s presence not only added glamour to the event, but his speech also resonated deeply with the people of Ibadan. Tinubu spoke of his connection with Oba Ladoja, their time together in the Senate, and the impeachment saga. He recounted his campaign visit to Ibadan, during which he canvassed for votes, and the people of the state supported him massively. His speech, delivered mainly in Yoruba, can be translated thus: “When I came to Ibadan during the campaign and spoke at this same Mapo Hall, urging that you vote for me—that it was my turn to be president—you voted massively for me. I appreciate your support. I’m most grateful.”

Oba Ladoja boasts a rich network of friends and associates. In attendance at his inauguration, besides President Tinubu, were governors, former governors (some from the Class of 1999 and 2003), past and present National Assembly members, ministers, members of the diplomatic community, captains of industry, and many other dignitaries. Friends in the opposition who were unable to attend the inauguration visited him in the days that followed.

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The Oba Ladoja story is an inspirational tale of fortitude, grit, courage, and determination—qualities emblematic of a true Ibadan man. Through it all, Oba Ladoja kept his eyes on the big picture. Becoming Olubadan was his lifelong ambition. When his aspiration seemed threatened and he had to fight, he fought resolutely. When the situation demanded humility, he stooped to conquer. Ladoja initially resisted wearing a beaded crown, but in 2024, he eventually accepted it, embracing the then-evolving Ibadan chieftaincy arrangement.

At this point, I would like to share a humorous encounter I once had with Oba Ladoja. It was in the run-up to the 2003 governorship election, which he eventually won. The Punch newspaper had asked me to interview Ladoja ahead of the election.

The build-up to that election was very tense in Oyo State, especially in Ibadanland. Two sons of the soil—Ladoja and the late Alhaji Yekini Adeojo—were battling for the Peoples Democratic Party ticket to contest against the incumbent, the late Comrade Lamidi Adesina of the old Alliance for Democracy. Given the tension and rivalry between Ladoja and Adeojo, there were talks in some quarters of disqualifying both men, much like the late Prof. Femi Agbalajobi and Chief Dapo Sarumi were disqualified in Lagos by the Babangida regime in the run-up to the 1991 governorship election.

During the interview, I asked Ladoja about the possibility of his disqualification. His reply was both shocking and revealing: “What have we done in Ibadan? What has happened here to warrant our disqualification? Only one person’s leg was broken, and another person was blinded. What have we done?” I was flummoxed.

Though neither candidate was disqualified, in retrospect, that response—cold as it may have seemed—speaks to the nature and politics of Ibadan and the popular aphorism about its people’s pugnacious spirit.

The adage goes: “Ija igboro lo’ro Ibadan,” meaning an Ibadan man is never shy or afraid to pick a street fight.

With Oba Ladoja on the throne, it seems the full glory and power of Ibadan—the city of seven hills and the town Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka describes so glowingly in his memoir, “Ibadan: The Penkelemes Years”—are unfolding before our eyes. May the reign of Oba Ladoja be long, peaceful, and prosperous!

*Rahman is Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media & Special Duties.

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The former vice president’s post on his social media handles captures the essence of the visit:

“Earlier today, I led a delegation of friends and political associates to the ancient city of Ibadan on a congratulatory visit to HRH Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.

“My delegation included the former PDP National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, former Cross River State Governor, Mr Liyel Imoke, former Kaduna State Governor,  Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Mallam Adamu Maina Waziri, one time Minister of Police Affairs and  Mallam Kashim Imam.

“I was elated that the Olubadan called every member of the delegation by their names, remembering our time together in the public service.

“Indeed, His Royal Highness and all of us had shared decades of time of service to our dear nation.

“I am proud that Kabiyesi, a longstanding associate, has ascended the throne of his forebears.

“I regret my inability to be physically present for the historic coronation due to protocol logistics. Please overlook and forgive me. Mo dobale, Kabiyesi.

“It is my prayer that you will enjoy a long reign in good health and vitality that will usher in more growth, prosperity, and peaceful Ibadanland

“I trust the assurance of Oba Ladoja to serve justice to his people across all religious or political divides.

“I profoundly thank the Ibadan people who turned up in their numbers to receive me and my delegation at the city gate.”

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“Call no man fortunate (or unfortunate) until you see the end of his life,” so goes a much treasured adage that I cherish.

I must confess that I don’t seem to like this Obasanjo/Olubadan Media (Devil’s advocate) hype being bandied from lips to lips like cats in chorus.

When it comes to longevity and destiny, (as different writeups on the new Olubadan and Chief Obasanjo are wilfully portraying them) let no man speak authoritatively on such exclusive terrain of the Almighty God.

Let me whisper something about God.

Ba mi na omo mi  ko de’nu Olorun (Help me beat my child does not come from the bottom of God’s heart). When a man is caught in sinful acts, God looks for intercessors who would  canvass forgiveness for him, but if rather than finding one, all He sees are a bunch of mockers and crucifiers, goading God for revenge, His anger may go the opposite direction.

Here comes the reason and spirit of why King David was a man after God’s own heart. King Saul haunted him from one pillar to another, seeking to eliminate him. Even though David had all the chances in the world to kill King Saul and play an opportunist in view of the vulnerability that dogged each step being taken by desperate Saul, he refused to do so.  When King Saul however committed suicide, someone played a false tale bearer, hoping to curry undue favour from David as he feigned himself as the murderer of Saul.

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Hear him: …As I happened by chance upon mount Gil- boa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

And when he looked unto me: and I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

And he said unto me again, stand, I pray thee, upon me and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

So I stood upon him, and slew him because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: I took the crown that was upon his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.”

Instead of receiving approval and unmerited favour from King David, he was ordered to be executed.

Hear David’s verdict: “How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”

And David called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

” …Thy blood be upon thy head: for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying I have slain the Lord’s anointed.”(11 Samuel 1: 6- 16 )

Just one week to the Coronation of Oba Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, I had a clear vision in which I behold, standing before me, the Late Oba Akinyele whose good record as Olubadan of Ibadan has not been broken till now. The interpretation of the dream is that the new Olubadan of Ibadan, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja would do well to follow the footsteps of Oba Akinyele. His period witnessed great and unbeatable achievements and it is within the capacity and God-given wisdom available to the new Olubadan to excel and beat the record.

I pray that God shall grant the new Olubadan of Ibadan, the wisdom to be a king after God’s own heart. Amen.

Am I a judge in this matter? Far from it. I am a Writing Prophet.

“The Prophet does not invoke timeless abstractions but echoes the voice of God imploring the wayward to turn back. What may appear to be words of doom in Biblical prophecy are actually exhortation to repentance.”

In doing my duty as a Writing Prophet, I neither beg for favour nor hatred of anyone in this regard, but just following through as it’s been dictated to me.

“I soon found out that it is not by wisdom that poets create their works, but by a certain natural power and by inspiration, like prophets, who say many things but who understand nothing of what they say.”

Barely one month to the period General Olusegun Obasanjo was whisked away from his farm by the Abacha junta, I sent through one of our Cameramen in the Sunday Punch (Olasupo) to book an appointment for an exclusive interview with him and sent to him a copy of my bestseller journalism textbook: “Journalists And The Hand of God” which treated journalistic hazards in all its ramifications.  Ironically, it was preparing him a-head of the harassment awaiting him.

When it was a risky business calling on General Sani Abacha to release Obasanjo from detention, I was led by the Spirit of God to Ijebu-Ife and I interviewed, Chief Kolawole Mamora, the college tutor of Obasanjo, MKO Abiola and Oba Sikiru Adetona among other notable men and women whom the “Merry Chief ” taught during his 40 years as an educationist.

During this historic interview which turned out to be highly prophetic, Chief Mamora who had just disembarked from trance gave seven commandments to Abacha to obey and implement lest he faced the music. One of the commandments included the release of Obasanjo, Abiola and other political detainees. (Punch newspaper of August, 16,1997).

When the security service men invaded his home at Ijebu-Ife asking him to deny it so that they could get at me, Merry Chief stood by his gun.

(His many archival correspondences to me are contained in my new book due for outing soon)

Just last Friday when the new Olubadan of Ibadan was being crowned, I was at Ibadan interviewing one of the tutors who taught Oba Rashidi Ladoja in his college days.

(Readers curiosity on what his tutor reveals shall be unsatisfied for now until unzipped through the media soonest).

The race is not always to the swiftest but time or chance dictates it all.

When the Lord asked me through my prophetic magazine The Watchman in 2006 to tell Governor Rashidi Ladoja to avoid second term trap, I did not mince word communicating it at the back page of the magazine.  It was this same edition that God mandated me to warn Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was then the President not to dare a third term in office. It was openly displayed on the front page of The Watchman (prophetic) Magazine. 

I pray that God shall grant the new Olubadan of Ibadan, the wisdom to be a king after God’s own heart. Amen.

Just thinking aloud.

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On Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu turns his gaze south-westward to the sprawling city of Ibadan. Over two years since his assumption of office, this is the President’s first berth in Ibadan, the political and spiritual capital of the Yoruba nation. Just as Kaduna spoke to his national reach barely a week ago, Ibadan speaks to his South West base. It is a return not merely to a city, but to a crucible of Yoruba identity, politics, and destiny.

Ibadan is no ordinary city. It is the heartbeat of Yoruba politics and identity, a vast urban sprawl steeped in tradition, intellect, and culture. Here, history drips from every corner — from Mapo Hall, where nationalist firebrands once roused the masses, to Cocoa House, the towering emblem of the Western Region’s prosperity and vision.

Ibadan was the capital of the old Western Region, the epicentre of progressive leadership from where Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his contemporaries presided over the affairs of the region with revolutionary zeal and pioneered free education, agricultural revolutions, and industrial transformation. To the Yoruba, Ibadan is both fortress and fountain — a city where politics is born, nurtured, and projected onto the national stage.

It is into this arena of weighty symbolism that the President arrived to witness the crowning of Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. The Olubadan stool is unlike any other in Yorubaland — a uniquely structured succession line that embodies the Yoruba love of order, merit, and patience. That Tinubu will stand in solidarity with the people at such a sacred moment is itself a reaffirmation of his bond with tradition and with the Yoruba nation.

In Ibadan. Tradition met power. Serving South West Governors showed up from Oyo, Ekiti, Osun and Ondo. Former Governors and Political heavy weights also showed up. The Sultan of Sokoto and very prominent Yoruba first class monarchs from the Alafin to the Soun and of course Oba Elegushi of Lagos.

READ ALSO: Olubadan: Oba Rashidi Ladoja crowned, gets staff of office

Politics Without Bitterness: Tinubu and Ladoja

The crowning of Rashidi Ladoja as Olubadan carries a personal resonance for President Tinubu. Two decades ago, when then President Olusegun Obasanjo orchestrated Ladoja’s illegal impeachment in 2006, using only a handful of lawmakers, it was Tinubu — then Governor of Lagos — who stood against that brazen assault on democracy.

Ladoja, hounded from his office by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo and denied justice, found sanctuary in Lagos. President Tinubu not only gave him refuge but also lent him the courage and political cover to resist. Against the odds, with President Tinubu’s backing, Ladoja fought his way back through the courts, and the judiciary eventually restored him to power.

This bond, forged in the fire of political persecution and resilience, now finds symbolic closure in Ibadan. Tinubu did not arrive merely as President; he arrived as an old ally, standing with the Olubadan Senator Ladoja on the day of his ultimate elevation to the Olubadan throne.

At the event on Friday at the historic Mapo hall,  President Tinubu made remarkable revelation reminiscent of the Abeokuta ‘Emilokan’ declaration. He described the ascension of Oba Ladoja to the throne of his forebears as another ‘emilokan’ moment. The message was not lost. Just as the comparison was obvious. His journey to be Olubadan took him 33 years to climb on the long succession ladder just like the President’s journey to the Presidency: the fight for democracy, the sacrifices, the people he built, the many twists and turns and eventually now, the Presidency.

Ibadan was also significant on the coronation day. From the hills of Mapo, President Bola Tinubu delivered a powerful political message of renewed hope. “Today, I am honoured to bring the cheering news that our economy has turned around and there is now light at the end of the tunnel…” Coming from the Commander-in-Chief, the man who knows and calls the shots, it was an important message. It was a validation of the reforms mantra of this administration and the positive impacts of the reforms.

The Political Capital of the Yoruba Nation

Ibadan represents more than just politics; it is spirit and identity. It has produced poets, warriors, intellectuals, and statesmen whose reach extended far beyond Yoruba land. In every era, Ibadan has stood as the Yoruba voice in Nigeria’s political orchestra. From the days of Adegoke Adelabu’s fiery “penkelemesi” populism to the statesmanship of Lam Adesina and the reformist zeal of governors like Ladoja himself, Ibadan has set the rhythm of Yoruba political expression.

President Tinubu’s presence at the coronation of Olubadan therefore carries the weight of cultural affirmation. It tells a people that their heritage matters at the highest levels of power, and that the leader of the nation stands not above tradition, but within it.

And just as Kaduna reminded Nigeria of northern political sophistication, Ibadan now offers the world a lesson in Yoruba resilience, heritage, and leadership.

Politics of Bridges, Not Walls

Like Kaduna in the north, Ibadan has been the crucible of alignments and re-alignments in the south-west. It was here that old rivalries found resolution and fresh alliances were born, shaping the destiny of the Yoruba within the federation. The President’s return to this theatre of history is a reminder that politics is not about conquest but connection; not about drawing lines, but building bridges.

For the Yoruba political elite, Tinubu’s presence is validation — proof that the son of Lagos remains attuned to the heartbeat of his cultural kin, even as he governs the entire federation. For ordinary Ibadan people, it is a reassurance that their President, despite the burdens of national office, has not forgotten the city that remains the Yoruba axis of history and destiny.

The city of Ibadan was on lock down.  The streets lined with excited Oyo citizens and Nigerians welcoming and cheering on President Tinubu. To Mr. President, Oyo State Resounded Loud and Clear- “Ekaabo o”.

Ibadan as a Metaphor for Yoruba Political Ascendency

Ibadan’s genius has always been its ability to marry tradition with progress, culture with politics, history with modernity. Its monarchy is as revered as its intellectual traditions. Its politics, though fiercely competitive, has often found equilibrium in Yoruba solidarity. President Tinubu’s visit, then, is not just ceremonial. It is a subtle but profound embrace of this heritage — a signal that his politics remains grounded in the values of loyalty, patience, and cultural continuity that the Yoruba hold dear.

The Significance of the Moment

In Kaduna, Tinubu broke myths and dissolved doubts, receiving resounding political validation. In Ibadan, he is set to affirm cultural solidarity, pay homage to tradition, and consolidate his role as both President of Nigeria and a proud son of the Yoruba nation. The crowning of Rasheed Ladoja as Olubadan provides the perfect canvas for this: a celebration of continuity, loyalty, and unity.

And just as Kaduna reminded Nigeria of northern political sophistication, Ibadan now offers the world a lesson in Yoruba resilience, heritage, and leadership. In Ibadan, loyalty will meet tradition, politics will embrace culture, and history will come full circle. And in that convergence, Tinubu’s leadership will be reaffirmed once more — not by force of power, but by the enduring power of friendship, loyalty, sacrifice and heritage.

*Dare (CON) is Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication

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