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Tag: Governor Abiola Ajimobi

  • Tinubu never imposed Adelabu on me, Ajimobi insists

    GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi has said that the National Leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did not impose the party governorship flagbearer in the 2019 election, Mr Adebayo Adelabu,on him or the state.

    Reiterating that it was God’s guidance and leading that resulted in the emergence of the party’s choice, Governor Ajimobi said the opposition party’s flagbearer making the insinuation should be more worried about a non-Yoruba in the person of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who chooses and determined the party’s choice for the election.

    This is coming even after the governor also debunked media reports alleging that he got a whopping sum of $10million from the APC governorship candidate as gratis before handing him the party ticket.

    The governor spoke at flag-off of the governorship campaign rally at an event which held at the Oke Ado state party secretariat, Ibadan.

    The event was largely attended by party leaders, elders, party faithful and candidates for all elective positions, including the governorship flagbearer and his running mate, the three senatorial candidates, 14 House of Representatives candidates and the 33 House of Assembly candidates. The governor also handed over the party’svflag to Adelabu and his running mate, Mr Samuel Egunjobi.

    While explaining how the choice of Adelabu was made, the governor insisted that it was God who already predestined the former CBN deputy governor to succeed him but only used him (Ajimobi) and the party leaders to achieve it.

    He called on the people to give him the needed support to ensure his emergence, noting that the party’s choice has the required knowledge and wherewithal to take the state to the next level of development.

    He also appealed to all other aspirants, who jostled for the ticket with the flagbearer to forgive him and embrace him to achieve success at the polls. He assured them that the party’s flagbearer will deliver and take the state higher.

    The governor also stressed that one of the signs that worked in favour of the choice is God’s directive for him to go for the youngest of

    all the aspirants when he was in dilemma about who to support for the ticket.

    He said: “Before I said Adelabu would be the governor, God spoke to me. And some people said it was Tinubu who told me. Please is Tinubu living in Ibadan with us? Even if Tinubu had even told me, is it not better than Secondus, who is an Igbo man, to tell them who should be their flagbearer?

    “You all should know that with all these that we are doing, God is really with us because when we started, what we asked God was that if we will do well, God should help us to get there and if we won’t do well, he shouldn’t allow us to get there. How many politicians can say that? It is almost eight years and you all can see how well we have done.

    “Before we came into power, when they tell you someone is an NURTW member, do you stay close to him? How well do you pass through Iwo road and other places around town? Is it not in fear and anxiety? But the story has changed. There is peace and even the NURTW members are now peaceful and gentle people.

    “God sees my heart. It is God who made us choose Adelabu. All those who aspired for the ticket, there was nobody among them who was not qualified. We had people with first class and second class in various fields, but the scripture must be fulfilled.

    “Among all those who contested for the ticket, God told me that I should pick the youngest person in age and when you look at the bible for the story of David, you will understand better.

    “Please, the remaining of you that you contested for the post, I beg you to forgive me. Adelabu did not put himself there, God put him there. He only used us to get there and I assure you, he will not misuse it.”

    While assuring on the party’s victory at the forthcoming polls, Governor Ajimobi said the signs had been there for all to see.

    Earlier in his address, the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke, said the party had begun another journey, like “we began in 2011 and at the end of the journey, it was a victory for all our candidates. Today, we are beginning another journey for all our candidates and this journey will also end in victory for all our candidates in 2019. We are sure we will win.”

  • 2019: Changing face of Oyo governorship race

    The political cloud is gathering in Oyo State ahead of the 2019 general election. While the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to blow the whistle to kick start campaign for the general election, gladiators in the state are already at each other’s throat over who will succeed outgoing Governor Abiola Ajimobi, just as permutations continue to change almost on a daily basis, writes Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    COUPLE of months ago, Governor Abiola Ajimobi highlighted the veracity of the ongoing struggle for the governorship seat when he said not less than 34 governorship aspirants are seeking to succeed him. At that time, a few of the aspirants were already looking like possible candidates of their various parties. In fact, within the ruling APC, there were already talks about an alleged Ajimobi’s anointed candidate, who some observers said looks good to clinch the ticket.

    But today, the entrance of some other aspirants into the race for the gubernatorial ticket of the APC has not only upset permutations, it has also introduced fresh intrigues into the contest. The recent declaration by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and immediate past Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in charge of Operations, Adebayo Adekola Adelabu, that they will be seeking the APC ticket, has forced some leading aspirants to return to the drawing board.

    While many analyst are insisting that Adelabu will not dump a job like the plum seat of Deputy Governor of CBN for a governorship race if he is not certain of winning, others are saying Alao-Akala, given the current cordial relationship he enjoys with Ajimobi and the leadership of the ruling party in the state, will not join the governorship race without some certainties.

    Incidentally, while speaking during an interview with journalists, Alao-Akala alluded to the fact that Ajimobi is aware of his aspiration when he said ‘the governor cannot claim to be unaware of my governorship ambition.’ Adelabu on his part announced his entrance into the race with a declaration that he is ‘starting the onerous task of nation building from my immediate constituency, Oyo State where I have resolved to play an active role in politics.’

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not without its own drama. At the beginning of talks between the party and erstwhile leader of Accord Party (AP) in the state, ex-Governor Rasheed Ladoja, the permutations in many quarters were centered around Ladoja’s likely candidacy on the platform of the PDP. Expectedly, frontline aspirants on the platform of the PDP resisted his defection back to the PDP, his old party.

    But the struggle changed when Ladoja hinted that he may not be seeking the PDP governorship ticket. This was further re-enforced when he sought to be the national chairman of the party. Some PDP gubernatorial aspirants, who hitherto were opposed to his defection, became some kind of allies and associates. Till today, many aspirants are in the race because Ladoja is likely not going to contest.

    In addition, observers of the politics of the state say the chummy political relationship between Ladoja and Engineer Seyi Makinde, another frontline aspirant on the platform of the PDP, is another important factor in the analysis of how the general election will be won and lost. Before now, the camps of the two politicians have engaged in fierce supremacy battle following Ladoja’s defection to PDP.

    But Makinde laid that to rest weeks back when he affirmed Ladoja as the leader of the PDP in Oyo State. “Some people said I am dragging the leadership of the party with Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja; it is not so. He is still the leader of the party in the state and my leader in Oyo State. What we want to do is to send APC away in 2019. After that, we will call ourselves and move forward,” he said.

    But pundits say beyond the changes daily being introduced into the race by old and new aspirants alike, there are a number of other factors that are likely to continue to alter permutations in the race to determine who takes over from Ajimobi in 2019 until the two leading political parties elect their various gubernatorial candidates at their various primary elections.

    Rotation debate

    One of such issues, according to political observers, is the raging debate over an unwritten zoning arrangement that will see the governorship rotate among the various parts of the state. While it is obvious that zoning has until now, not been a major part of the governorship politics of the state, many notable personalities, especially outside the Ibadan area, are today clamoring that the position be zoned away from Ibadan.

    Speaking on the agitation for rotation, Prof. Adeolu Akande, said given the fact that parts of the state, like the Oke-Ogun area, have not produced a governor for the state before; it is important that the rotational formula be encouraged. He added that he is convinced that the next governor of the state will come from the Oke-Ogun, based on an earlier promise by Ajimobi.

    He also expressed confidence that Ajimobi would keep his promise of supporting an Oke-Ogun aspirant. “It is only fair to hold someone to his word. If somebody at the level of a governor can say two or three times that the Oke-Ogun area of the state will produce the next governor, I don’t think there is any basis for anyone to doubt him. He has put his honour and integrity on the line, so we should believe him,” Akande said.

    But legal luminary, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) disagrees. According to him, zoning of governorship position in Oyo State is unnecessary. ‘There is a wide divide between morality and law. Democracy is anchored on the rule of law and not on sentiment. Apart from sentiment, I have asked this question before and no one has been able to give me an answer: who is an Ibadan man? Who is an Oyo man? Who is an Ogbomoso man? Let us face it; the Oyos are one, from Ogun to Kwara states.

    “Those who are saying otherwise are political, social and cultural illiterates. You may have chains of university degrees without being articulate. The late MKO Abiola’s father was from Ojoo in Ibadan. He was the Balogun of Ojoo in Abeokuta. He was later made Basorun of Ibadan. The Adedibus are cousins to the Alaafin. Ikire people in Osun State have their family compound in Ibadan. The next in line to the stool of Olubadan, Lekan Balogun, is the grandson of Alli Iwo, a former Olubadan. Shall we say he is no longer an Ibadan man? We are talking of Oyo State being ruled by Oyo people’ he said.

    Beyond the argument for and against zoning, there is also a raging debate over what the parameter for zoning should even be. While some are agitating for zoning on the basis of senatorial district in the state, many more are saying the traditional regions of the state should be the zoning yardstick. Consequently, the camp of pro-zoning agitators is equally divided, giving indications that the issue may be more difficult to resolve than many think.

    While the senatorial districts in the state are Oyo North, Oyo Central and Oyo South, the old regions are Ibadan, Oke-Ogun, Ogbomosho, Oyo and Ibarapa. As at today, only Ibadan and Ogbomosho regions have had the opportunities to produce governors for the state. Thus, the other three regions are agitating for a shot at the seat. Also, the people of Oyo Central, for instance, are clamouring for the opportunity to produce the governor based on the fact that the zone has never produced one since the creation of the state in 1976.

    Since the return of civil rule in 1999, Oyo North and Oyo South have been producing the governors. Late Lam Adesina, from Ibadan in Oyo South was governor between 1999 and 2003; Rashidi Ladoja, also from Ibadan, governed from 2003 to 2006 and Abiola Ajimobi, from the same Ibadan in Oyo South, has been in office since 2011. Oyo North had the opportunity of producing the governor between 2007 and 2011, when Adebayo Alao-Akala governed the state. Alao-Akala hails from Ogbomoso in Oyo North.

    Thus, the central senatorial district is yet to produce a governor and is determined to do so in 2019. But Oyo Central is a mixture of people from various traditional zones, unlike the south and the north. Of the 11 local governments in the district, four are from Oyo region, namely Afijio, Atiba, Oyo West and Oyo East; five are from Ibadan region. namely Akinyele, Lagelu, Ona Ara, Oluyole and Egbeda; while Surulere and Ogo Oluwa, the remaining two, are from Ogbomosho region.

    According to a former physician to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Olusegun Ajuwon, using senatorial district is unacceptable because “Oke-Ogun as a distinct segment of Oyo State is hereby announcing formally that for the governorship of Oyo State, it is our turn, come 2019. We believe, as the people of Oke Ogun, that the time has come to ask for and to get this coveted position of the executive governor of our dear state. There are reasons to justify this clamour for the gubernatorial power to shift to Oke-Ogun.”

    “If an Ibadan aspirant from Akinyele, Egbeda, Lagelu, Oluyole or Ono Ara emerges, it will still be an Ibadan man governing, not the district. And it will be an Ogbomoso still should the next governor hail from Surulere or Ogo Oluwa. That is why the zoning should be done on the basis of the old regions if we are to be fair. This and many more reasons explain why Oke-Ogun is particular about how the zoning should be done.”

    The gladiators

    A look at the array of aspirants across party divides, gunning for the governorship seat revealed that the forthcoming race promises to be fierce. The Nation also gathered that aside the many who have formally declared their interest in the race, a number of interested persons, within and outside the two leading political parties are still waiting for the appointed time to throw their hats into the ring of the governorship contest.

    In the race already is the ex-Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli. He hails from Ibadan North Local Government Area. A former council Chairman, he served as Secretary to the State Government under Ladoja. He is seeking the ticket of the PDP for the 2019 election and his supporters within the party say he is the man to beat in the race.

    Senator Soji Akanbi, currently representing Oyo South in the senate, was once in the lower chamber. He aspired for the governorship in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but lost to Ajimobi. He is currently of the APC and he has left no one in doubt of his readiness to give the race his best effort. He enjoys the support of a good number of party leaders, especially in the southern senatorial district where he is seen as a performing lawmaker.

    Senator Femi Lanlehin, also from Oyo south is another PDP gubernatorial aspirant. He represented his district under the platform of the defunct ACN from 2011 to 2015 and earlier served as Special Adviser to ex-Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu, on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. He was in the Accord Party with Ladoja and is still seen by many as the PDP leader’s 2019 governorship joker.

    Incumbent Deputy Governor, Moses Alake-Adeyemo, is also running on the platform of the APC. So is Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu and Senator Fatai Buhari, all of the ruling APC. A retired banker, Adeyemo was chosen as deputy to Ajimobi on the platform of the ACN in 2011 and was re-elected along with the governor in 2015 for a second term. He is from Oke Ogun.

    Akintola is from Iddo Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital. He once served as deputy speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and now want to be governor on the platform of the APC. Shittu hails from Saki in the Oke Ogun are of the state. He was a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state and had contested gubernatorial election in the state on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC).

    Buhari, currently a senator, is not seeking a return to the legislative chamber, but nursing the ambition of becoming governor of the state. He was the Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources during the first term of Governor AjimobiThere is also Seyi Makinde from Ibadan North East Local Government. In 2015, he ran a spirited and gallant race as the governorship candidate for SDP. But he is currently a chieftain of the PDP.

    Other aspirants include Engineer Oyedele Hakeem Alao, a governorship aspirant on the platform of Alliance for Democracy (AD); former Finance Commissioner, Zacheaus Adelabu  from Oyo town;Temitope Olatoye, member of House of Representatives representing Lagelu/Akinyele Federal Constituency; Adeolu Akande, former Chief of Staff to Ajimobi; and Abiodun Akintunde, another former Commissioner in the state.

  • When will peace return to Oyo APC?

    The ward, local government and state congresses of the Oyo State All Progressives (APC) have become a bone of contention between the camp of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and aggrieved chieftains under the aegis of the “APC Unity Forum”. Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE examines the protracted crises and their implications for next year’s polls.

    AGGRIEVED All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Oyo State are up in arms against Governor Abiola Ajimobi over the outcome of state congresses.

    The camp of Ajimobi and the “APC Unity Forum” are battling for the control of the party, ahead of next year’s polls.

    When the defunct Action Congress (AC) transformed to the Action Congress of Nigeria  (ACN) in 2010, many people embraced it in the six Southwest states. Its forebear, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), had crashed in the 2003 elections. Many who left the AD between 2002 and 2007 returned to the fold. One of them was the governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.

    The governor had left the party for the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to contest the 2007 governorship election, having successfully completed a term of four years in the Senate representing Oyo South District on the platform of the AD. He left for the ANPP to prove that he had enough followers to win. But, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) frustrated his ambition through large scale rigging.

    On his return in 2011, he got a warm welcome and eventually picked the party’s governorship ticket. Ajimobi defeated his two predecessors, Rashidi Ladoja of Accord Party and Adebayo Alao-Akala of the PDP. Defectors from the PDP and other smaller parties also contributed to his success at the poll. These blocs make up the cornerstones of the ACN since 2011. Yet, virtually all members of the party’s  executive from ward to the state level are those who stayed back in the party. They are usually called Lamists the followers of the late Lam Adesina, who was the governor of the state from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the AD.

    The situation became complicated in 2014 when the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) joined forces with ACN, ANPP and nPDP to form the APC. Satisfying all members of these blocs has been the cross Ajimobi has to carry. Ajimobi’s core followers – SENACO (Senator Ajimobi Campaign Organisation) members-had wished that their leader whipped every other member into line but the governor insisted that he did not believe in the politics of winner-takes-all. Whenever they raised the threat of not being in control of the party machinery, he would explain to them that members of all blocs must learn to work together in peace with the government creating opportunities for all so that every member, irrespective of their political background would feel a sense of belonging.

    The party has been managing the divergent interests, until this year when those who objected to Ajimobi style of leadership or feel cheated came together to fight their common enemy. But they are not just Lamists. They include members of other blocs.

    The crack became widened when six members of the House of Representatives – Sunday Adepoju, Olusunbo Olugbemi,  Adedapo Lam-Adesina, Olasupo Abiodun, Olugbenga Ojoawo and Taiwo Akintola – published an advertorial  calling on the national leadership to prevail on Ajimobi to allow what they described as “internal democracy” in the local government election and party congresses. Its was followed by the unveiling of the Unity Forum, which is an umbrella body for the anti-Ajimobi forces. They agitated for “internal democracy” as against the imposition of candidates in the election and congresses.

    They agitated for open primary based on their belief that the vast majority of those holding party positions at the ward and state level are Lamists. They were convinced that the executives, being the delegates at the primary, would largely choose their own candidates since they belong to the same political family. They opposed the affirmation mode which the party adopted.

    But, the Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, explained that affirmation is well enshrined in the party’s constitution. He said there was nothing wrong in choosing affirmation model for the primary because it will reduce the rancour that normally follows open primary.

    Article 20 (1a) of the party’s constitution states: “All party posts prescribed or implied by this constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective National Convention or Congress subject, where possible, to consensus, provided that where  a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position a vote of “yes” or “no” by ballot or voice shall be called, to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.

    (2) Conduct of primaries for nomination

    (a) “Nomination of candidates for councillorship shall be by direct primary election conducted at the ward level. For the purpose of this primary election, party members in every ward shall vote by open-secret ballot for the candidates of their choice where there is no consensus, provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of “yes” or “no” should be called to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.”

    After the May 5 primary was shifted to the next day, due to an attack on some party members by suspected hoodlums, members of the forum accused the mainstream of failing to pay for the nomination forms for its candidates in the ward congress as prescribed in the guidelines for the election. The forum also accused the mainstream of not granting them access to submit the report and results of their parallel congress, adding that the mainstream did not hold any congress and where they held, it did not conform with the guidelines set by the party. They maintained that the mainstream ended up with fake forms and called on the national leadership to ensure that justice was done.

    The “Unity Forum” claim that  chieftains who held a parallel congress at the Liberty Stadium were in the majority and those who converged on Adamasingba Stadium were in the minority.

    The protagonists

    They include National and State Assembly members

    National Assembly members include Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Hons. Adepoju, Olugbemi, Lam-Adesina, Abiodun, Ojoawo, and Akintola and Segun Ogunwuyi. Some House of Assembly members were led by Hon. Segun Olaleye. Others include some party leaders from Oke-Ogun, Oyo, Ibadan and Ibarapa. They include Dr Busari Adebisi, Abu Gbadamosi. The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, is the arrowhead of the Unity Forum while a former Caretaker Chairman of Ibadan North West Local Government, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, speaks for the forum.

    Though all members of the group have insisted that all they want is “internal democracy,” a source said they are fighting for the tickets to return to the parliament in 2019.

    Former appointees

    The source said most of the former appointees in the group are not happy that they were not returned in the last appointment.

    The source said that they came together to slug it out with the governor but that the party chose to go for a consensus primary which is constitutional to avoid the negative consequences of an open primary.

    Oke said the aggrieved members of the forum failed to explore the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party to the end. He described internal conflict resolution as an ongoing effort, which should not be jetissioned at any time.

    But, he pointed out that members of the forum are still bonafide members of the APC. He described members of both camps as members of the same large family. Oke also expressed optimism that a truce would be reached at a stage because of the progressive ideals that bind them together.

    He said: “They are still members of this party. We will continue to explore possibilities of reconciliation. The constitution allows us to continue to explore reconciliation.”

    The forum’s position:

    The forum has maintained that the mainstream did not pay for the form as at May 4. It insisted that they only paid on May 7, a day after the ward congress.

    The spokesman of the forum, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, said rather than probing the motivation behind the movement, the party should explain why it allegedly failed to follow the guidelines, which prescribe payment for the form latest 24 hours before the congress.

    He said: “People in politics say all sorts of things, whether they are reasonable or not. The key issue for us is whether the governor was right to have gathered the so-called elders to Lafita Hotel and asked them to determine who would become local government chairmen and councillors. The local government election was done by elders handpicked by the governor. Is that internal democracy?

    “It’s only when they can fault our arguments with facts that they can go ahead to examine our motivation. But here, the facts are clear. Did the constitution of Nigeria or that of APC say elders will determine who will be chairmen and councillors? So, why are they looking for motivation when the facts are there? Let them address those facts.”

    On reconciliation, Olatubosun said: “We are ready, and we don’t have any tough condition other than that the party should provide the bank tellers with which they paid for the forms. For us, they did not take part in the congress. The way forward is that they should show evidence of payment at the time stipulated in the guidelines and forget whatever the appeal committee must have written because we believe the committee was deceived.”

    Tinubu’s role:

    The National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has called on members of the forum to close ranks with the governor or toe the party’s guideline in seeking redress.

    Tinubu said: “I ask you to bury the hatchet and cooperate with Governor Abiola Ajimobi and forgive whatever shortcomings you may perceive. I know he has tried to reach out and be inclusive. I can attest that he is a good man and leader. To me, the governor has demonstrated openness by welcoming into APC top politicians like former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin; former Deputy Governor of the state and ex-Nigerian Ambassadir to Jordan, Chief Taofeek Arapaja; former Secretary to the State Givernment, Chief Ayodele Adigun, and the only federal lawmaker elected on the platform of PDP to the House of Representatives, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, among others… We must also not forget the Governor’s outstanding efforts towards the transformation and development of Oyo State.

    “Remember that the tenure of any one office-holder must conclude within an appointed time but the party shall always remain. Thus, we must not fixate on transient personal differences but must join together for a greater purpose.”

    The two camps are fighting for the soul of the APC in Oyo State because of next year’s elections. As typical of the progressives, it is expected that they will close ranks, particularly now that they have flexed muscles to define their strengths. Compromise will be the way forward.

  • Adeyemo, best Speaker I ever worked with, says Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has described the late Speaker of the House of Assembly, Michael Adeyemo, as the best Speaker he has ever known.

    Speaking publicly for the first time since the Speaker’s death, the governor extolled the late Adeyemo during a condolence visit by Ibadan monarchs yesterday.

    He said he was yet to come to terms with the reality that he would no longer see or meet with Adeyemo.

    In the delegation, led by the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, are the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin; Ekarun Olubadan, Oba Amidu Ajibade; Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Ashipa Balogun, Oba Lateef Adebimpe and Ekarun Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola.

    Ajimobi said: “I do appreciate this condolence visit on the demise of our colleague, brother, son and our Speaker. Since his exit, I have refused to speak publicly because he was so close to me. I thought for a young man who had been very patriotic, diligent, hardworking and committed to the progress and development of this state to just pass away so suddenly. But, that is the will of God.

    “Regardless of his young age, we take solace in the fact that it is not how far, but how well. I have witnessed and read about many Speakers and worked with two; without any equivocation, I can say that he was the best Speaker I have ever worked with.

    “In terms of intellect, humility, integrity, knowledge and the Omoluabi virtue a good leader must possess, I can say without mincing words that he was the best. It is painful that we lost him. I can say that he did very well.

    “He was also very religious. Many people are religious but ungodly. But this man was religious and godly. I have no doubt in my mind that he is resting in perfect peace. I thank you for this visit and I pray that the Almighty will spare the rest of us to live long to impact on the society.”

    Oba Balogun said the death was a great loss to the state, adding that the intellectual capacity of the late Speaker reflected in the way he led members of the House of Assembly without rancour.

    He said: “This visit is intended to convey our heartfelt condolences and express our sadness to the government and people of Oyo State as the Speaker left us at a young age of 47 and when we least expected it because he was not reported sick.

    “We commiserate with the governor, members of the House of Assembly, Adeyemo’s family and the people of Oyo State on this tragic loss.”

     

    Funeral holds Thursday

    The funeral of the late Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Michael Adeyemo, will begin tomorrow.

    He will be buried on Thursday in his town, Lanlate, in Ibarapa North East Local Government.

    The Funeral Planning Committee and Governor Abiola Ajimobi approved the date proposed by the Adeyemo family.

    The funeral service is expected to be preceded by a valedictory plenary and lying-in-state at the House of Assembly, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.

    There will be a wake at Oke-Ado Baptist Church, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

    Adeyemo died last Friday at Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan.  He was 47.

    The state began a three-day mourning yesterday.

    Flags at the Government House, Agodi, were flown at half mast in line with the government’s directive to honour the deceased lawmaker.

  • Olubadan Vs Ajimobi tussle: Oyo CJ reassigns case 

    Olubadan Vs Ajimobi tussle: Oyo CJ reassigns case 

    The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola has re-assigned the case filed by the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji against the review of the Ibadan Chieftaincy laws by Governor Abiola Ajimobi to another judge.

    The Governor had at the last hearing of the case before Justice Olajumoke Aiki of Court 10, sought the transfer of the case to another judge based on a judgement delivered by the presiding judge on a similar case, which was not in favor of the government.

    The case which was due for ruling on the preliminary objections could not come up, Friday, as many of those who had stormed the Court were disappointed when they had of the development.

    Sources hinted that the case had been transferred to Court 8 of the State High Court presided over by Justice Ogungbola.

    The sources added that the implication of the development was that, the case will now start afresh.

    more so, the case which was supposed to be mentioned Friday morning at the newly reassigned court could also not hold due to what the source described as “some unforseen circumstances” but adjourned till April 3rd, 2018.

    Some of the counsels who were in court confirmed the transfer of the case and expressed confidence in the ability of Justice Adegbola to do justice on the matter.

    The lead counsel to the claimant, Adeniyi Ajewole said his client has no issue with the transfer of the case adding that Oba Adetunji has absolute confidence in the court.

    Read Also:Oyo CJ to reassign Olubadan’s case against Ajimobi

  • Alumnae renovate alma mater with N200m

    Dissatisfied with the level of infrastructural decay in Lagelu Grammar School, Oremeji, Agugu Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Old Students’ Association (LAGSCOBA) has injected over N200 million towards the rehabilitation of the school. Coincidentally, this is coming almost at the time when the school is preparing for its 60th Founders’ Day celebration.

    Speaking to reporters in Ibadan penultimate Thursday on the preparations for the Founders’ Day celebration, the Chairman Anniversary Committee of LAGSCOBA 60th anniversary, Mr. Tony Aletor said the association has renovated all the blocks of classrooms in the school as well as the administrative block in readiness of the event.

    Aletor added that the association has constructed an alumni centre with state-of-the-art equipment, renovated and equipped the laboratories, reconstructed the school hall named Ayo Labiyi Hall and is constructing a modern e-library tagged Osuntokun e-Library.

    He stressed that the road which leads into the school has been transformed to a dual carriage way, with landscaping for aesthetic development. He pointed out that all the buildings in the school have been modernised and are wearing new looks.

    Aletor further explained that activities marking the 60th Founders’ Day celebration which started on Sunday, January 21 to end on January 27, commenced with an inter-denominational thanksgiving church service at the school hall on Sunday and followed by a peace walk on Monday which will commence from the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan as well as inauguration of some projects.

    He said on Tuesday, January 23, Lagelites will visit the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the founding Principal of the School, Pa Ayo Labiyi. After the visit to Pa Labiyi, there will be visits to charity homes, adding that Wednesday will be for the re-launch of the school magazine and resuscitation of the school clubs which include the Literary and Debating Club, Press Club, Drama and Musical Society, French Club, Geography, Agricultural and Science Clubs.

    The Chairman stated that on Thursday, there will be a career session with the recognition of 100 distinguished Lagelites who will receive the Diamond Anniversary Distinguished Career Mentors and Achievers’ Awards in Corporate and Political Leadership.

    The Keynote address at the event will be delivered by the distinguished alumnus and international businessman, Mr. Kase Lawal.

    Aletor revealed that on Friday, there will be a Diamond Anniversary Lecture which will be delivered by Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman-designate Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), who is also an alumnus of the school.

    According to Mr. Aletor, the grand finale of the 60th anniversary celebration is the gala night where Governor Abiola Ajimobi, an alumnus of the institution, will deliver a keynote address. Other activities of the day will be the institution of various endowment funds and the foundation laying ceremony of the School’s Governing Board Building among others.

    Aletor emphasised that the School Governing Board (SGB) is working in tandem with the alumni association to ensure that the glory of the school is restored.

     

  • Ayo Karim joins guber race

    It is becoming a case of the more the merrier in the political terrain of Oyo State as one more distinguished son of the soil has thrown his rat in the ring in the race to replace Governor Abiola Ajimobi in Oyo State Government House come 2019.

    The new entrant is none other than the Chief Executive Officer of Costain Plc, Ayo Karim.

    The entry of the young man is basing his candidacy on the three pillars of competence, development and service.

    Not one to waste time on empty words, Karim has already launched the ‘Ayo Ni O’ movement to capture the hearts and minds of voters through empowerment initiatives which he hopes will give the electorate a taste of things to come should they choose him as their next governor.

  • How Ibadan got 32 new obas

    The administration of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi made history on Sunday when it crowned 21 of the 32 obas whose thrones were newly created by the review of the Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration. BISI OLADELE gives details of how the thrones were created amidst misunderstanding and power play

    When Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi inaugurated a commission of enquiry to review the 1959 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration on May 9, this year, some stakeholders within the high echelon of the city’s traditional system raised eyebrows. They  accused him of attempting to tinker with the 50-year-old system for political gains.

    They said Ajimobi was planning to prevent some people from ascending the throne of the Olubadan, rupturing the peaceful ascendancy system and ultimately creating confusion among indigenes.

    Former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who is also the Osi Olubadan, sued the panel and the governor to court. The plaintiffs prayed the court to issue an order restraining the panel from sitting or taking any decision on the Declaration.

    While the court followed the process of hearing the case, Ajimobi sought an audience with the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the 12 members of the Olubadan-in-Council, explaining to them what he described as the pressing need to review the 50-year-old system to reflect modern realities.

    According to him, he made them see very clearly that he had no hidden or political agenda for making the efforts.

    Consequently, the Otun Olubadan, the then High Chief Lekan Balogun, who is the next-in-line to the throne of the Olubadan, withdrew from the suit, leaving only Ladoja as the plaintiff. Balogun told reporters that after listening to Ajimobi, he saw his sincerity and the great benefit the review would bring to the stool of the Olubadan and Ibadan as a town.

    The panel completed its sitting and submitted its report which created 32 new stools for Obas earlier in August.

    But Ladoja is still in court, pursuing his opposition to the review on the strength that the Declaration is purely traditional, hence only the Olubadan-in-Council and other related Ibadan interest groups can tamper with it. Ladoja told our correspondent on Friday: “The Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration is a native, local law, not a state law. So, the state government has no right to tamper with it. It is the business of only Ibadan people.”

    On why he did not show up to collect his letter as one of the new Obas, he quipped: “I am not interested in anything they are doing because it is illegal,” referring to the subsisting court case.

    However, 21 of the 32 Obas were coronated in a mass ceremony at the historic Mapo Hall on Sunday.

     

    Why the review

     

    In an advertorial published by the state government on Sunday, it explained that the decision for the review stemmed from attempts by previous administrations as well as request to do so from the majority of members of the Olubadan-in-Council, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and other major stakeholders. The government recalled that attempts to review the system began in 1974 during the military era, and that the changes brought to the system were effected. The same happened in 1981.

    “The Oloko Commission of Enquiry was set up on April 1, 1993 by Governor Kolapo Ishola to review Chieftaincy Declarations across the state. The recommendations were accepted by Governor Lam Adesina. Upon becoming Governor, Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja suspended the White Paper and ultimately the recommendations of the Oloko Commission were abrogated by him.” The advertorial read in part.

    It further explained that Ladoja’s administration also set up another commission whose recommendations did not ‘see the light of the day.’

     

    Details of the new system

     

    All 11 high chiefs who are members of the Olubadan-in-Council, are now Obas with the title ‘His Royal Majesty.’ But they still retain their original titles of ‘Otun Olubadan,’ ‘Osi Balogun,’ ‘Ekerin Olubadan,’ ‘Ashipa Balogun’ among others. Because they retain their ranks within the Olubadan-in-Council, they will ascend the ladder until the next-in-line mounts the throne after the death of any current Olubadan.

    Besides, each of the Royal Majesties has a local government in the city as his domain. There are 11 local governments in Ibadan. Because they now wear beaded crowns, only a beaded-crown Oba is eligible to become Olubadan from now.

    With the review, the Olubadan is now known as His Imperial Majesty because he has lower Obas under him. He also retains the consenting and prescribed authorities for the entire Ibadan land. Consequently, only the Olubadan has ‘of Ibadan land’ in his title, meaning that all other Obas, who include former baales, are traditional rulers of their communities which are in Ibadan land.

    The implication is that the Olubadan is the supreme ruler of Ibadan land.

    For emphasis, the White Paper states: “Any Oba in Ibadan land who shows disregard or disrespect to the position or authority of the Olubadan through refusal to pay necessary customary obeisance and flouting of superior customary authority shall be investigated by a committee of traditional chiefs and appropriate sanction will be recommended against any guilty offender. A very serious infraction of the tradition can be reported to the state governor through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.”

    With the review, the two lines to the throne of the Olubadan (Olubadan and Balogun)  are retained but with the Olubadan line now known as the Otun Olubadan line.

    While the 22 steps in Otun Olubadan line have been reduced to 11, the rungs in the Balogun line have also been reduced from 23 to 12. The reduction was aimed at allowing younger people to emerge as the Olubadan.

    The senior chiefs, who are next to the high chiefs in rank, have also been elevated from customary senior to recognised chiefs “under Part II of the Chiefs Law in order to maintain the customarily cherished seniority of the senior chiefs over the various baales who are already recognised under the Part II of the Chiefs Law, including ancient baales.”

    The Olubadan-in-Council has been changed to Council of Obas in Ibadan land.

    Those coronated at the weekend were His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Senator Lekan Balogun -the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land; HRM Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin – the Balogun of Ibadan land; HRM Oba Tajudeen Ajibola – the Osi Balogun of Ibadan land; HRM Oba Eddy Oyewole – the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan land; HRM Oba Latifu Gbadamosi-Adebimpe – the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadan land; HRM Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi – the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan land; HRM Oba (Dr) Kolawole Adegbola the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadan land and HRM Oba Amidu Ajibade, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan land.

    While two high chiefs died in the last two weeks, Ladoja, who is the 11th member, shunned the elevation. The Iyalode of Ibadan land is the 12th member of the council.

    The elevated baales were His Royal Highness (HRH) Chief Lasisi Akano – the Onijaye of Ijaye; HRH Oba Ismaila Opeola, Oniroko of Iroko; HRH Oba Moses Akinyosoye; the Onikereku of Ikereku; HRH Oba Mudasiru Adebayo, the Ololodo of Olodo; HRH Oba Victor Okunola, the Elegbeda of Egbeda; HRH Oba Gbolagade Babalola, the Onido of Ido; HRH Oba Olabamiji Thomas, the Alakufo of Akufo; HRH Oba Wahab Okedina, the Oloke of Okelade-Okin; HRH Oba Dauda Omotoso, the Alawotan of Awotan; HRH Oba Adeboye Salako, the Olofa of Offa; HRH Oba Rafiu Alawusa, the Onilagun of Lagun; HRH Oba Tiamiyu Ladipo, the Alaba of Aba-Nla and HRH Oba James Obisesan, the Alakanran of Akanran.

  • ‘Political statement’: Olubadan replies Ajimobi

    ‘Political statement’: Olubadan replies Ajimobi

    As the dust settled over the emergence of new obas in Ibadan, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, on Monday urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi not to paint him bad before the public, stressing that his decision to oppose the review of the Olubadan chieftaincy system was not political in any way.

    In a statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs to the palace, Mr Adeola Oloko, on Monday, the monarch said: “As a monarch, I’m a father of all, irrespective of sex, ethnic and ideological persuasions.

    “Since Friday, March 4, 2016, when I ascended the exalted throne of Olubadan I have opened the gate of our palace wide to all manner of people. If you belong to APC, PDP, Labour, Accord and/or more, you are most welcome. So, politics has nothing to do with my resistance or opposition to the chieftaincy review spearheaded by the Oyo State Government.”

    Oba Adetunji also described as unfortunate the comment by the governor that recent utterances from the palace are tending towards the political, adding if he (the governor) has any demonstrable evidence of such, he should kindly provide it.

    According to him, there is no press statement issued from the Olubadan media office which did not enjoy his blessing before it was made public.

    He said: “While I am aware that people react to age differently, I am not old enough to be misinterpreted by anybody, even at 89. Governor Ajimobi stated that he invited us to the Governor’s Office over this matter and visited me in the palace later.

    “While this is true, I wish to respectfully state that the Board Panel was inaugurated on May 19, 2017, His Excellency, Governor Ajimobi invited me to the Governor’s Office on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 after the panel had sat for 4 weeks. At that meeting, His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor, the High Chiefs and State House correspondents would recall my opposition to the chieftaincy review.

    “My question is: ‘did anybody put words in my mouth in that recorded tape?’ When he invited me to his office and visited me in the palace on Sunday, June 18, 2017, the Board Panel was almost through with its job, when we met at the inner chamber, what the State Governor came to tell me was that he knew I should have been consulted first. So, it is not true that I was consulted, as claimed by him.

    “If I had been consulted, this error would have been avoided. The desecration of the crown would have been averted.”

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, who congratulated all Ibadan people on keeping the peace, assured that these times would pass.
    Oba Adetunji commended all his brother-monarchs for their solidarity and cooperation, saying his opposition to the mass coronation exercise was to prevent the breakdown of law and order, complication and dire consequences in Ibadan Chieftaincy System.

  • Ibadan to have 32 obas as Olubadan remains paramount ruler

    Ibadan to have 32 obas as Olubadan remains paramount ruler

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State Friday vowed to implement every recommendation put forward by the judicial Commission of Inquiry on the review of the existing 1957 (1959) Declaration of Olubadan of Ibadanland and Other Related Chieftaincies in Ibadanland, promising to begin the implementation next month.

    Receiving the formal report of the commission at the executive chamber of the governor’s office, Ajimobi noted that implementation of recommendations had always been a big challenge for all governors who had set up similar commissions to look into the review of the chieftaincy law in the state.

    Meanwhile the commission recommended 11 high Chiefs and 21 baales to wear beaded crowns in the state while also reducing the long steps required for individuals ascending the throne of the Olubadan of Ibadanland among others.

    The commission, set up on May 5, 2017 with seven members and an initial four weeks to submit its report later requested for additional time while additional four members were added, making a total of 11.

    According to the governor, implementing the recommendations will not only justify the efforts, commitments and resources committed into the course but would also give answer to the yarnings of the numerous stakeholders and prominent indigenes who were calling for the review.

    Ajimobi who traced the genesis of effort to review the law to the time of General David Jemibewon up to his immediate predecessor in office, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala said, just like himself, his predecessors were requested by concerned stakeholders including prominent individuals, socio cultural based groups and others, to look into the chieftaincy laws, which compelled his administration to take the bold step to look into the matter.

    He described as “fortunate and unfortunate” the situation in which virtually all his predecessors could not implement any of the recommendations of the panel they set up assuring that his administration will be remembered for implementing the review

    While assuring that the intention was never to demean the office or status of the Olubadan in anyway, Ajimobi reiterated that it is to upgrade the office and make it in tandem with modern realities as practiced in all other states of the region.

    He said: “We set up this panel out of the request of many members of the Olubadan-in-Council, the CCII and many other stakeholders just the same way they requested many other governors before us.

    “Since the time of Jemibewon, all the governors that were in office set up commission of enquiry to look into the matter but unfortunately and fortunately they were unable to implement the recommendations of the commission.

    “Even Governors Alao-Akala and Ladoja regime also set up the enquiry to review the same law but what we are doing is not new but what is new about it is that we will be placed on record as the government that will implement this review.

    “The review is necessary to review the status of Olubadan but not to deminish him. It is to upgrade and make it in line with what obtains in Lagos, Osun, Ogun and other states. Particularly to make it in line with current trend. By reviewing this law we are democratising traditional rulership in our state”

    The governor who commended the members of the commission, members of the Centre Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) the Olubadan-in-Council and the Olubadan of Ibadanland for their overwhelming support for the review noted that the support gave him the necessary philip and conviction that he is on the right path on the matter.

    He stressed that the revelation that over 120 memoranda were collected on the matter shows the enormity of individuals who are interested and are in support of the review adding that the number remains the highest ever received on any issue and subject whose the views of the people were sort.

    While presenting the report, Chairman of the commission, Justice Akintunde Boade disclosed a total of 120 memoranda were received, three struck out on the basis of not relevant to the terms of reference while nine of the people who submitted memoranda refused , failed or neglected to give oral evidence in support of their memoranda.

    He added that after a careful assessment of all the memoranda submitted, 106 of the 120 memoranda were given due consideration.

    Noting that the report was prepared in three volumes for convenience, the Chairman said, the main report, containing the findings and recommendations of the commission is in volume I, the memoranda received by the commission compiled in volume II while volume III of the report contains the day to day proceedings of the commission.

    Giving a hint into the key recommendations of the commission, the Chairman said the steps to ascendancy to the throne has been reduced from 22 to 11 and 23 to 12 on the Otun Olubadan line and Otun Balogun line respectively.

    He added that if the government will approve the recommendations, atleast 32 beaded crowns monarch will emerge while the Olubadan remains the paramount ruler and overall head of Ibadanland.

    The retired justice also said the age limit for a mogaji, the least on the wrung of the ladder has has been reviewed to between 25-35 and thereby placing an embargo on the appointment of new chiefs.

    However, the commission emphasised and restate the “unassailable fact that the Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadanland remains the only paramount ruler in Ibadanland”

    He said: “With reference to thr third term of reference on the wearing of beaded crown, the Commission received a total of 91 memoranda. Two of the memoranda were struck out for being irrelevant to the term of reference while five of the memoranda were not supported by oral evidence. The commission considered 84 memoranda on their merit.

    “In considering the various applications for the wearing of beaded crowns, the commission gave preference to the eleven high chiefs in the Olubadan-in-Council and the carefully identified nine ancient Baales which are found eligible and five baales who are members of the Oyo state council of Obas and chiefs.

    “We also considered four other baales on the basis of their historical antecedents”