By Adeyinka Adeniran
Former Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose has assured the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja that people outside Ibadan indigenes, residents and entire Oyo State are solidly behind the revered stool and would not allow it be dragged down by anyone irrespective of status.
This is as he called on Governor Seyi Makinde to thread softly noting that his tenure is tied to the constitution while that of the Olubadan stool is tied to destiny from God.
Fayose spoke on Tuesday when he paid what he described as a solidarity visit to the Olubadan at the Bodija, Ibadan residence of the first class monarch.
Addressing the monarch who was in company of some revered Ibadan indigenes, the former Governor said he stood by his report that Governor Makinde had plans to query the Olubadan on his alleged role in the aborted coronation of some Chiefs in absentia.
He noted that, he was not surprised when initially, reports from both the Palace and the government denied rift but with the happenings within the last 48hours showed otherwise.
Describing himself as a son of the soil of Ibadanland, having being born to Ibadan, the former Governor said Ibadan remains a home to himself and many other prominent individuals, including political heavyweights, former governors of many states among many others dignitaries.
In a sort of comical tease, he appealled to the Olubadan to, one day consider allowing people of other indigenes but who have lived all their lives in Ibadan and have contributed to its progress to be considered for the stool by extension.
He said he was standing in solidarity with the monarch in views of his good name, track records and heavy profile, noting that the current Olubadan is not just a blessing to Ibadanland, or Oyo State but the country as a whole.
Fayose said, “I’m here in solidarity with the happenings in Oyo State. I’m privileged to be your son, son of a soil, by birth. And I’ve once agitated that those of us who are shy of total Ibadan by water should be given opportunities to become Olubadan in the future.
“However, that is for another day. But keep that in mind. You know, Trump was an alien in America. Trump is said to have come from Germany and was born in America. His great-grandfathers were Germans. Today, we are sons of the soil.
“Yes, they said we were sent to Ekiti. But, if we were not from here. Would you have sent us to be governors in other parts of the country?.
“Because we are from here. If we can get the privilege of becoming governors, one day we will become an Olubadan in the Ibadan land. Well, not necessarily ourselves, but our children’s children.
“Be that, as it may. I am here, I mean, to identify with you. To identify with the names, with the name you have built. The decent record you have built. You are an exceptional, to the glory of God, Olubadan of Ibadanland. The record has shown, the record has shown that such Olubadan will come once in a lifetime. It is an uncommon opportunity to have you on this stool, And I am saying it today, Kabiyesi. We are with you.
“Whether we are from Ogun, whether we are from Ekiti, I was born in Ibadan, here. An injustice, disrespect, dishonor against you is a dishonor against us. I said what I said, but it is not for this gathering, because I have facts. And I have said it, time will tell. And time indeed exposed itself.
“But for us, we want to tell you the Olubadan has an eternal tenure with God. Governors, you were a governor at a time, your tenure was tied to the constitution. My own tenure was tied to the constitution of Nigeria. But every other tenure, as the Olubadan of Ibadan, is tied with God.
“So I need to remind those who are fumbling today to remember very clearly that their tenure is time bound. The tenure of the Olubadan, by the grace of God, will see another governor very soon, will see another governor after that, will see another governor after that. And God will keep you on the throne, because Ibadan needs you, the Yoruba nation needs you, the country needs you.
“When you have quality people in power, when you have quality people on the throne, it’s to the benefit of Ibadan and Nigerians in general.
“I have come to identify with you. All those noise, all those bickering, all those innuendos, are done by children, babies. I was governor 23 years ago. I was the youngest among your set, so we got the training rights. I went through the furnace to be who I am today. So Kabiyesi, long may reign. Ignore the noise of your dogs barking in the house. You have dogs everywhere. Ignore their noise. Kabyesi doesn’t know how many dogs is in his yard. He can call anyone to order. You understand?
“The reason why anybody would be talking about Olubadan today is because you have what it takes. They are scared of your CV. They are scared of what God has imputed on you. If they need you, let them come, and say, Kabiyesi, help me. If they don’t need you, let us wait for the day of reckoning. Whether Olubadan, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, matters or not.
“I, Peter Ayodele Fayose, popularly called Oshokomole is here to identify with this institution, the Olubadan stool, to which God has bequeathed to you at this time. Long may you reign, Kabyesi.”
Fielding questions from reporters shortly after the visit, Fayose who was seemingly with joy said he had been vindicated of the vindictive nature of Governor Makinde despite the initial denial of the plans to dethrone the Olubadan.
He said Governor Makinde needs to learn from people, including himself on how to manage issues, noting that he became a governor at the age of 42 and had left the office over 23years ago.
He urged the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin to aspire with caution, saying he must not allow his head to be bruised in his bid to seek governorship ticket.
He alleged that all seems to have be over for Makinde as he current has no party while also confused as to deciding on who his preferred successor would be.
“Well, I came to identify with the Olubadan, because the latest issues came when I made a revelation of what is ahead in Ibadan and Oyo State. And I stand by what I have said.
“Nobody in this country, I stand to be corrected, has ever said what Fayose said has been contradicted by his new actions over time. So, whatever I say is either I have the right information from the source or I am privy one way or the other to certain activities.
“Let me say it again. Makinde, the current governor of Oyo State, has an agenda to remove the Olubadan of Ibadanland. Whether it will now fly, whether it will happen, is another story.
“Because this week, and let me say to you, I told someone I don’t want to mention here, that incident of coronating people in their absence, I said it before those actions took place, and they told me it’s not going to be possible. And it actually happened, coronating people behind them. And again, I said it over time that Governor Makinde got N50 billion, it was firmly denied by his commissioner at the time. But eventually when I provided the evidence, they accepted that they took N30 billion. All those ones are history.
“Again, this one, the activities that followed my revelation, that Olubadan will have been queried this week to explain his role in the aborted coronation. What has played out in the last 48 hours has confirmed there is a lot to it. And I’m telling you, Makinde has not stopped. He will still take steps in his desperation to show that Olubadan must go.
“And if you know very well, Makinde has installed a number of traditional rulers. The Soun is there, the Alaafin is there, the Olubadan is there. Tell me which of them is Makinde’s friend today?
“So at this level of my life, I have nothing against anybody. But when we need to say things about the future of a place, of a country, of a society, we need to come out strong. Today this has boomeranged, but Makinde that I know, and I’m telling you, has not given up.
However, I have this word for him. Governor Makinde is a tenant. I was a tenant in government house in Ekiti at some point. Governor Makinde’s tenancy is about to expire. The Olubadan only has a date with destiny and with God. But Makinde has destiny with the constitution of Nigeria and his tenancy has no renewal in another couple of months, so let him tread cautiously. Let him be cautioned.
“And I’m telling him because I have experience, I was the youngest of a set of the current Olubadan, as governor. So I know what I’m talking about. Governor Makinde, must thread with caution. Time will catch up and time is almost catching up.
“Let me equally say this to you. If you look at the pattern, Governor Makinde does not have a consistent relationship to know who he will hand over to. He’s gambling. He doesn’t know who he will hand over to.”
Apparently counselling the Oyo Assembky Speaker, Fayose said, “I want to appeal to that young man. I didn’t say he should not aspire. I was governor at 42. But he should not allow his head to be bruised. He should be very careful. I mean Adebo Ogundoyin, he’s our young person aspiring well, but he should tread cautiously. You know, it’s easy for people to want to find favor with the governor and come and lie against the stool of this Olubadan. That is very petty.
“That was exactly what Governor Makinde did when he had a conversation with the President in the closet and came to the public and start discussing his conversation with the President.
“Let me close by saying this: The game is up for Governor Makinde, he has no party. He has no credible individual to hand over to. And he’s having issues. And I want to say this by adding this addendum. If you have noticed the last three governors of Oyo State, they run into issues towards the end of their tenure. With all due respect to Governor Ajimobi. Towards the end of his tenure, he had issues with the public. I love him. He’s our brother. I’m just saying that Makinde should learn from the past. I had issues when I was governor. So he should learn from us.
Governor Akala had the same issue towards his end. Makinde is doing the same path. The end is to be to nowhere.”
Reacting earlier, the Olubadan thanked the former Ekiti governor for the visit, noting that he was surprised to hear the report of the dethronement and that the palace debunked it because there was no traces of such.
He added that the development in thenlast 48hours had shown thatbsomething was cooking. He however noted that, he was optimistic that the governor has not said anything about the matter because he heard he’s been busy outside the state attending to other things.
He said he believed the governor would react accordingly when he returns, adding that Ibadan is like a large room with may windows and has its own was of resolving any issues, no matter how serious such an issue may be.
