*Warns Oyo monarchs against political partisanship or risk being abused as politicians
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said in a matter of weeks, he would begin a vigorous campaign across the country in pursuit of his presidential ambition.
This is as the governor warns traditional rulers, especially in the state to stay apolitical or risk being abused and insulted like fellow politicians.
Makinde, the Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the 2027 election spoke on Saturday shortly after he and his wife were installed with the chieftaincy title of Aare Asoludero and Yeye Asoludero of Ibarapaland by the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola.
The event was to climax the week long activities commemorating the first year anniversary of the monarch on the throne.
Speaking, the governor said, although he was still on holiday and on leave as the governor, every entreaties for chieftaincy titles by monarch’s across the state over the years has been declined on the ground that he would prefer to be installed after serving his time out as the governor.
He noted however, that, he was ambush by the Eleruwa because he agreed to come.out of his holiday to be part of the one year celebration because of the journey that led to the present situation.
“When Eleruwa called that he wanted to give me chieftaincy title, I told him that many monarch’s in Oyo state have been calling me for chieftaincy titles, but I have been declining urging them to allow me finished my term as the governor of Oyo state if they think I was deserving.
“That was the response I gave the Eleruwa and I thought we had left that. Later kabiyesi called to invite me to his first year coronation anniversary, and I assured him that I will be there because I knew what we went thorough to get to this point, event though I was on holiday.
“As I arrived back from where I was holidaying, I discovered that kabiyesi had ambushed me and people were already congratulating me on the installation.
“I recall that when my political career was to begin, for the first time, Ibarapa land was where I started and this palace was the same place I started. Even though I lost the election for Senate at the time, but this is the first chieftaincy title that I will accept in Oyo state and I’m glad that it started in Ibarapa land.”
While appreciating traditional Council in Eruwa and Ibarapaland for honouring him and his wife, he described the titles as recognition that came with responsibilities.
He apologised to other monarchs that he would be honoring their invitation for coronation anniversaries anymore, because he now has an idea ofbwhat could transpire.
“So, I apologise to Aseyin amd others, if you invite me for your coronation anniversary, I won’t come because now I have an idea of what you would want to do. But prophets are usually not always recognised in their own homes. So, I thank you for this recognition fromcthe traditional council of Ibarapaland”, he added.
The governor noted that in a matter of weeks, he would enter into the campaign mode and he would start singing, talking, and evening abusing other politicians, emphasising that, that what politicians do.
He said as he goes from one palace to another, he would refrain from abusing traditional rulers, but as soon as he steps out of the palace and discover partisanship from.any monarch, he won’t hesitate to abuse and insult such monarch.
He said he was glad that, it has been established that traditional institutions have accepted every politicians as their children, stressing that traditional institutions that play politics will also get their share of insult.
Makinde said, “Because I am still in the holiday mode. In another two weeks, I will be in campaign mode and I will campaign vigorously throughout this country.
“So, by next week, I will start getting into the mode to start talking, singing and even abusing people. That is it. I won’t abuse anyone in the palace because all our monarchs are father for us all. But when I step out of the palace and get outside, I will be abusing them because that is what we do in politics. We usually abuse each other.
“And I am happy that we have drawn the line that, traditional institutions should accept everyone of us as their children. But, traditional institutions that play politics, we will also abuse them. If they cross into politics, we will abuse them. So, today, I just want to thank you.”
He also used the opportunity to assure the people on the plan to complete the Iddo-Eruwa road, which he said, he had again observed while travelling ti the town for the ceremony.
He assured that the Ido–Eruwa Road would be commissioned in December, explaining that the project aligns with his administration’s roadmap to connect all geo political zones in the state.
Apparently reacting to the request from the Eleruwa, the governor, on the Eruwa Farm Settlement, disclosed that the payment of N14.5 billion counterpart funding to the African Development Bank (AfDB) would resolve existing financial constraints and ensure the commencement of the first phase of the project before the end of his tenure.
Also on the request to upgrade the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, to a university, Governor Makinde said that Ibarapa deserves a university campus, adding that the request would be evaluated based on its financial implications. He added that the House of Assembly had already begun legislative processes on the matter.
The governor highlighted improvements in representation and inclusivity, noting that Ibarapaland now occupies prominent positions in the state civil service, including the appointment of the first Head of Service from the zone, Dr. (Mrs.) Adenike Fashina.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Oyo State Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, appreciated the governor for the inner roads project in Ibarapaland, adding that Legislators are committed to supporting both government and traditional institutions to drive development and improve the quality of life of residents.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman, Ibarapa-East local government, Kazeem Owolabi, who described the event as appreciation of succour Makinde administration has brought to Ibarapaland, expressed readiness of the people of the zone to ensure continuity of the good jobs.
Conferring the titles on Governor and his wife, in recognition of their service, achievements and giant strides and achievements, Eleruwa of Eruwaland, Oba Samuel Adegbola, present developmental requests, urging the governor to attend to them, especially the Eruwa farm settlement renovation, before his administration laps.
