Rather than deny amendment made to the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration by the House of Assembly, Governor Seyi Makinde and his men are deploying non-existent groups to blackmail 79-year old Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, OYOINSIGHT.COM has learnt.
Till now, over 24 hours after OYOINSIGHT.COM revealed the plot, neither the governor nor his men have come out with a reaction.
Jolted by the story that exposed move targeted solely at stopping the former governor ascending the Olubadan throne when it is his turn, a statement signed by a non-existent group, Ibadan L’Agba Group, which was later investigated to be coordinated by a section of the media team of the governor, was sent out Sunday morning, confirming the amendment.
The group claimed that the story was sponsored by Ladoja’s loyalists.
Signed by a faceless Alhaji Ligali Baoku and Mr. Sola Jinadu, the group asked Ladoja, who is currently the most senior high chief in the Otun Olubadan Line whose turn it is to mount the stool after Oba Owolabi Olakulehin who was coronated last Friday, to return to court if he was not satisfied with the amendment.
The faceless group said that “The first question we would like to ask them is: Was the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration reviewed on Friday at the coronation event? No. The process was concluded in 2023 and was well-accepted by Ibadan sons and daughters, who welcomed the much-needed change with open arms.
“The second question was whether High Chief Ladoja was aware of the law and what was his reaction? The former governor went to court over the Olubadan chieftaincy review. But he also chose of his volition to withdraw the matter from court. If he wants to become Olubadan he knows what to do. He should follow the process laid down by the gazetted declaration or return to challenging it in court. Whichever way, he should tell his sympathisers to stop acting as if the Olubadan stool is vacant.”
OYOINSIGHT.COM had reported how Makinde, as a sort of revenge against Ladoja who did not support the governor’s re-election bid in 2023, caused the amendment hurriedly.
Makinde had caused what has been described as a surreptitious amendment to be made to the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration by the House of Assembly.
The Declaration is a documentation of the custom of Ibadan people and it spells out ascension to the Olubadan throne.
Section 4 of the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration states that, “The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line.”
But in Section 4 of the already gazetted amendment to the law christened the New Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration, the phrase “the most Senior (High) Chief in that Line” has been replaced with “the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line.”
“The person who may be proposed as candidate by the Line whose turn it is to fill a vacancy in the office of the Olubadan shall be the most Senior Beaded Crown Oba in that Line…
It will be recalled that Ladoja is the only High Chief among the recognised kingmakers of Ibadanland who refused to wear beaded crown on account of it being illegal and strange for a person who set out to be an Olubadan to be given a different crown along the line.
Many of those who graced the coronation of Oba Olakulehin yesterday chastised Makinde for choosing the joyful occasion to unveil the punitive law targeted at Ladoja.
It was gathered that dignitaries who attended the ceremony had to wait for about two hours for the programme pamphlets to be brought to the historic Mapo Hill, venue of the ceremony.
The governor, it was learnt, instructed the planning committee for the ceremony to ensure the gazette is inserted in every pamphlet to send the message to Ladoja and his supporters.
Sections 1 to 4 of the Oyo State Chiefs Law do not donate the power to amend the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration to either Governor Makinde or the State Assembly.
Investigation also reveals that it is unconstitutional to make law targeted at an individual as Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) only empowers the House of Assembly of a State to “make laws for the peace, order and good government of the state or any part thereof…”
It was gathered that the recent minor cabinet reshuffling by Makinde was not in connection with the issues around installation of Olakulehin as Olubadan.
The governor was said to have allegedly removed Segun Olayiwola as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for his refusal to lash out at Ladoja in the government response to Ladoja querying the delay in the coronation of Olakulehin as Olubadan.
It could not be ascertained if Ladoja, who is aware of the plot against him by Makinde, is going to court to test the validity of the new Declaration.
Sources say the former governor will go to court, although Makinde has also prepared to meet Ladoja “Pound for Pound and court for court.”
