…As Olubadan commits to non-partisan politics
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday explained why himself and some other close associates were physically absent at the coronation of Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Atiku who tendered an apology to the monarch before the presentation a letter of congratulations also thanked the new monarch for agreeing to receive the delegation to come and celebrate and congratulate him on the historic occasion.
The Nation reports that, Oba Ladoja was on Friday publicly presented with the staff and instruments of office as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland at historic event that was attended by dignitaries from across the globe, including President Bola Tinubu, ministers, members of the Federal Executive council, traditional rulers among others.
Speaking when he led top associates and friends to the Bodija residence of the Olubadan, the 2023 PDP Presidential candidate said the absence was due to protocol logistics arrangement.
Dignitaries in the entourage of the ADC chieftain include, former PDP chairman, Senator Iyiorcha Ayu, former Governor of Kaduna State and Ex-Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, former Cross River State Governor and former Senator Lyel Imoke, former Minister of Police Affairs and former Chairman, Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) and a host of others.
Atiku said, “The Chiefs of Ibadan, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. First of all, Kabiyesi, I want to start with an apology. And I hope you will accept my apology on behalf of the rest for our inability to personally witness your coronation as Olubadan, which we know is your lifetime ambition. And by the grace of God, you have attained it.
“Virtually all members of my delegation today have one form of relationship or the other with you personally. Our inability to attend personally the inauguration was due to protocol logistics arrangement which could not allow us to attend. Not that we did not want to attend.
“I know your relationship with most of us, we have always looked forward to this day and to this position for you. That is why, therefore, I spoke with you a couple of days ago, to seek your permission to lead this very high level and distinguished delegation to come and personally congratulate you and wish you a very long, happy reign as Olubadan.
“Please, therefore, accept our apology for our inability to attend the actual event on that day, certainly not due to our own making but I think God has willed it that way.
“The protocol logistics were such that we could not meet up with those logistics and therefore had to abort that visit.
“We very much regret our inability to personally participate in the ceremonies and we sincerely hope you will overlook and forgive our absence during that historic event.
“It is historic to both you, your family, and us, your friends and associates all over the country and we want to thank God for sparing our lives to witness this moment of your ascension to the position of Olubadan.
“We pray you will have a long life of reign. And under your reign, Ibadan will continue to grow more prosperous, more peaceful and may God grant you your heart desires here, in the world, and thereafter. We thank you very much indeed for allowing us to pay you this congratulatory visit.
“I would therefore like to hand over to you our letter of congratulations. And hope that you will forgive us and overlook our personal absence during those celebrations. Kabiyesi, God bless you.”
Responding, Oba Ladoja who was thankful to the visitors, recounted that he has enjoyed many years of personal and working relationship with virtually all the members of the entourage.
He said, as the Olubadan, he will make all his friends proud, reiterating that, his only task on the throne is to service humanity.
The monarch also reiterated that, he is no more a politician as the new task before him is to be a father to all.
Oba Ladoja said, “Former Vice-President, Senator Iyorcha Ayu whom I fondly call My President. My Dear friends, welcome to this place. My dear friend, from a long time, we kept close to one another. So God has brought us together again today.
“Welcome. Even though I’m no more one of you anymore, I’m not a politician again.
I was really shocked when I didn’t see some of my friends, and the same night I sent message to Waziri that, I hope nothing happened, because the advance team was here, I was following the lists of guest and I was looking forward to seeing you but unfortunately, you could not make it.
“When they say logistic problems, I can understand. Protocol logistics. I can understand what it means. So that is something we can say is beyond your control. So there is nothing to forgive here because it was not deliberate. It was even difficult for all of us.
“I said this because the first person that announced the passing away of the last Olubadan was Waziri. I woke up in the morning about 5 o’clock and I saw his message if it was a rumour that Olubadan is dead, that is it true? I called him and said yes, it is true. He now said, is it now our turn? I said yes, it is our turn.
“So that is why I said, somebody who said it is our turn and all the processes of his coming has been perfected, his advance team was here, the list of members of his entourage is here, so for him not to be able to be present, but I know that Waziri is used to such last minute problems. So it is me who should apologize to you. Not you apologizing to me because I can understand what you mean.
“It is nice to have friends with you because I can remember that my friend, Senator Ayu said, we will carry the title of senator for life. He said there is nothing like a former senator. In fact, I was expecting your wife also. She didn’t come because she is one of my daughters.
“Mallam has been my friend since the day of BPE. I remember there was a program of Standard Trust. l where he came and said, maybe I will also join Standard Trust because I see potential governance here.
“So it was his prediction that I became a governor, so thank you for that prediction. So now that I am in Olubadan, I am no more entitled to be any other thing than Olubadan.
“We had a very nice relationship at the senate with my friend Lyle Imoke, at that time he was the youngest senator and later on in Cross River State, when he was governor. Anytime I went visiting, he treated me with utmost respect. And it is always a joy to meet somebody you have known before.
“Thank you very much for coming. So we meet again. And I hope that this is not going to be the last meeting because I will come to Abuja to thank each of you one by one. I am very, very grateful.”
He added “And I can assure you that I will make you proud as your Olubadan. I will make all my friends proud because all the religion leaders, both Christian, Muslim and the traditional ones, say that the only thing that is expected of a leader is fairness and justice. So I intend to do justice among my people and serve them with all the strength that is left in me.
“I just passed 81 and infact the Waziri asked me whether I was going to celebrate, and I said I was in confinement where they normally confine us before the day of coronation. So I was not opportuned to be there. They said, that’s why they are not coming to my birthday.
“So the remainder of my life will be spent to serve my people. Ibadan people, Oyo state people, Nigerian people, Africa and the world at large. I will depend on your support, on your advice and I hope that when we knock on your door, you will open it for us. So I am very grateful for this visit.
