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Tag: Makinde

  • Diaspora group hails Makinde as Oyo marks 50th anniversary            

    Diaspora group hails Makinde as Oyo marks 50th anniversary            

    A Nigerian professional group in the diaspora, the Omituntun Initiative in the Diaspora (OID), has commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his achievements in office as Oyo State marked the 50th anniversary of its creation.

    The group described Makinde’s leadership style as transformational and people-centred.

    In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Barrister Ayotomiwa Adebayo, after the week-long golden jubilee celebrations, OID said the anniversary events were the largest in the state’s history.

    According to the group, the celebration showcased Oyo State’s rich heritage, developmental strides, and future aspirations, while strengthening unity and pride among citizens.

    OID said the milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the state’s journey since its creation and the progress recorded under Makinde’s administration, noting that his accomplishments compare favourably with those of previous governments.

    The group also paid tribute to the founding fathers and mothers of the state, acknowledging their sacrifices and resilience in laying the foundation for Oyo’s growth and development.

    It commended the governor’s people-centred approach to governance, integrity in public service, and commitment to sustainable development across key sectors.

    According to OID, the administration has recorded measurable progress in economic growth, job creation, infrastructure, education, healthcare delivery, security, agribusiness, renewable energy, and civil service reforms.

    The group also highlighted the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ gratuities, noting that fiscal discipline, accountability, and transparency have remained hallmarks of the administration.

    It added that Makinde’s governance style has restored public confidence and repositioned Oyo State as a viable destination for investment and innovation, describing his leadership as a model for good governance at both state and national levels.

    “The 50th anniversary celebration was not only a remembrance of Oyo State’s past but also a strong statement of how far the state has come under Governor Makinde. His administration has redefined governance and laid a solid foundation for long-term prosperity.”

    OID further noted that the governor’s inclusive leadership has ensured that development reaches both urban and rural communities, describing Oyo State as one of the most attractive states in the country to live, work, and invest in.

    The group congratulated the people of Oyo State on the golden jubilee and urged residents to remain united, rise above differences, and continue supporting the Makinde-led administration in consolidating existing gains to secure a stronger and more prosperous future for the state

  • Makinde appoints executive adviser on security coordination

    Makinde appoints executive adviser on security coordination

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the appointment of Major-General Lukman Tokunbo Omoniyi (Rtd) as his Executive Adviser on Security Coordination.

    The appointment, contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde, is with immediate effect.

    While congratulating Omoniyi on the appointment, Governor Makinde urged him to ensure effective coordination of security activities in the state with a view to making every part of the state safe and everyone secure.

    Read Also: HoS lauds Makinde’s foreign training for workers

    General Omoniyi (rtd) is a seasoned senior infantry officer who has held various command, staff, and instructional appointments in military formations and units.

    He holds a Master of Science Degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies in addition to another Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies, both from the prestigious University of Ibadan.

    He is currently working on his Doctorate Degree in Peace, Security, and Humanitarian Studies at the University of Ibadan.

  • PDP crisis: Makinde, Wike renew hostilities

    PDP crisis: Makinde, Wike renew hostilities

    The battle for control of the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resurfaced yesterday with a clash between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

    Both men, who were political soul mates in 2023, threw potshots at each other.

    Makinde, speaking during the inauguration of the PDP secretariat in Ibadan, launched a scathing attack on Wike and vowed that he would not allow the PDP to be dragged down.

    Makinde said: “I know that a lot of you are concerned about the PDP, asking what is happening in the party. Well, we are all in Ibadan, which is the political, administrative and cultural capital of the Yoruba race.

    “The first thing I want to say is that, in Yorubaland, we always say that if you see a house or a compound that is peaceful, it is because the illegitimate children in that house have not come of age.

    READ ALSO: Retreat on improving polytechnic education

    “The illegitimate children in the PDP grew up in 2015, had their time, and for 10 years – a decade – they practised their illegitimacy in the PDP. But they were expelled in November 2025. So, no more vagabonds in the PDP.

    “Whatever it is that they are doing, you should be able to trace it back to their origin. In 2015, the PDP lost power at the federal level.

    “There was a gap in the leadership. Otherwise, those vagabonds would never have been able to take hold of the PDP.”

    Makinde said he teamed up with Wike in the past when his mission was not clear to him.

    He added: “Let me confess: I came into government in 2019 and towards 2023, I was yoked with them. But now, I have repented; I am no longer with them. But for them to hold the PDP for another party to be in power, it is no, no, no.

    “If a lie endures for 20 years, truth will overtake it in one day. Liars can continue to peddle their lies, but I have absolute trust in Nigeria’s judiciary. I know they will do the needful.

    “So, all these court cases will come together at some point, and the judiciary, being the last hope of the common man, will give justice to the PDP.”

    Explaining why the Oyo PDP secretariat was named after Omokunmi Mustapha, Makinde said the former chairman was instrumental to the return of the party to power in Oyo State in 2019.

    Wike, on Monday, after a meeting of the Rahaman Mohammed-led caretaker committee, announced March 29 as the date for the party’s convention and specifically said he was interested in the situation of the party in Oyo State.

    He said: “Let me declare my interest clearly: I am interested in the survival and success of this party. I am also interested in all the happenings in Oyo State PDP.”

    It is believed that this remark was what Makinde responded to yesterday.

    However, after the governor’s comments, Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, fired back at Makinde.

    In a post on X, he stated: “He (Makinde) admitted that he was a vagabond. He said he has now repented. So he is first a vagabond who claimed to have repented. Happy repentance to him from being a vagabond.

    “However, in my place, it is said that even when a madman is cured of his madness, there will still remain some traces of madness.

    “Therefore, like he has been inconsistent politically, don’t be surprised tomorrow when he returns to being the same vagabond that he claimed to have repented from.

    “But the truth is, we understand his fears and worries. We understand that he knows what is coming. But too bad, we can’t help him from being consumed by the fire of political treachery that he ignited.”

    Wike’s aide added: “There is this political vagabond and harlot in Ibadan. He is only loyal to his personal political interests and he is always ready to sacrifice anything, including friendship.

    “In 2007, when he sought the PDP ticket to contest for the Senate and he couldn’t get it, he went to the ANPP.

    “In 2015, when he sought the PDP ticket to contest for governor and couldn’t get it, he went to the SDP.

    “Now that this vagabond has been expelled from the PDP, and his Ibadan amala ‘kanifa’ nullified by the court, where will he go next?”

    The bigger end of the stick swung to Wike’s bloc on Friday when the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the November 16 PDP convention held in Ibadan.

    The court declared all decisions taken at the convention null and void, including the election of the Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the expulsion of Wike and former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, among others.

    It restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the Turaki-led NWC and affirmed that only a caretaker committee could run the PDP pending another convention to elect national leaders.

    The Wike camp’s caretaker committee, led by Mohammed, swiftly held a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and announced March 29 for the convention.

    But the Turaki NWC said it had appealed the judgment and was seeking a stay of execution.

    The party’s National Secretariat remains sealed by the police following clashes between the two factions over control of the office.

    Caretaker committee dissolves N/West, S/West, Plateau excos

    The caretaker committee, which dissolved the North-West, South-West and Plateau State working committees, said new leadership structures would be set up soon.

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the decision was taken at a meeting of the committee in Abuja.

    He also said the national convention would now be held on March 29 and 30, instead of March 28 and 29, as previously announced.

    Mohammed said: “Recall that yesterday (Monday), during the NEC meeting, a date was announced for the national convention of the party, which was billed to hold on the 28th and 29th of March.

    “However, after careful consideration of certain factors, the date has been slightly adjusted for the convention to take place on the 29th to the 30th of March, instead of the earlier 28th–29th of March.

    “Secondly, the National Caretaker Working Committee has equally dissolved the Northwest, Southwest and Plateau State zonal committees. The zonal committees of the PDP will have caretaker committees appointed soon.

    “Furthermore, the timetable approved for the congresses in the states, zonal and ward congresses will take effect as approved by the NEC.

    “The National Caretaker Working Committee will consult widely before the announcement of the National Convention Planning Committee. These are the resolutions, or major decisions, that have been reached after today’s meeting.”

    Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Mohammed, said the party was united under his leadership.

    He said the committee would work round the clock to organise an all-inclusive national convention.

    He said: “There is no division in the PDP under my leadership. The PDP is united. We are working towards a peaceful and all-inclusive convention of our party.

    “I am sure that members of the party are following developments and know that we are genuinely working to reposition this party.

    “The party remains united, committed to bringing its members together, and focused on forging ahead in preparation for future elections.

    “This caretaker committee is also working in accordance with the PDP constitution and electoral laws to organise an all-inclusive national convention.

    “As we move forward, our focus will continue to be on inclusiveness, transparency and ensuring that every member of the party has a voice in shaping the future of the PDP.”

    Party workers back Turaki faction

    Party workers, who pledged support for Turaki, said the Federal High Court in Ibadan had constituted itself into an appointing authority.

    A statement by 76 employees, including the Acting Director of Administration, Gambo Isa Guade, and the Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Institute, Dr Edward Ugbada, said Turaki remained the legally recognised leader.

    The statement reads: “The management and staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) have noted the recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on the issue of the leadership of our great party and, as critical stakeholders, state as follows:

    “That the entire management and staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reaffirm our recognition, loyalty and allegiance to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, which was duly and legally elected at the party’s National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15–16, 2025.

    “That we stand by the election of the National Working Committee and all other resolutions reached at the Ibadan National Convention, as they are in the general interest of our party in the exercise of its supremacy over its internal affairs, in line with the Constitution of the PDP and extant judgments of the Supreme Court.

    “That the staff of the PDP, as custodians of the PDP Secretariat, will not align with or recognise any other unauthorised leadership apart from the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN-led National Working Committee (NWC), because the leadership was validly elected at the National Convention sanctioned by all the legitimate organs of the party.”

  • My team will continue where I stop in 2027, says Makinde

    My team will continue where I stop in 2027, says Makinde

    • Obi hails governor for uplifting state

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has said while his tenure will end in May 2027, members of his team with whom he has delivered good governance are determined to continue his good programmes.

    Makinde, who noted that his administration would continue to govern the state in accordance with the will and guidance of God, said his administration had built strong foundations for the state as it entered its next phase.

    He said this yesterday during a Thanksgiving Service in commemoration of Oyo State’s 50th anniversary, held at Cathedral of St Peter’s, Aremo, Ibadan.

    The presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, lauded Governor Makinde for uplifting Ibadan, the capital, and for using public funds for public good.

    Makinde, who had read the second Bible lesson from Matthew 5:1-12, congratulated Oyo State residents on witnessing the celebration of the state’s golden jubilee, which he noted was due to God’s grace.

    READ ALSO: Mutfwang, Plateau APC and 2027 battle

    He said his emergence as governor of the state in 2019 could only be attributed to God’s mercy, which enabled the state to experience a new beginning.

    He assured the people of the state of continuity of good governance after the end of his tenure, stressing that his team was still intact and would carry on the good work.

    The governor said: “I want to congratulate all of us for witnessing Oyo State at 50. I pray that we shall witness many more years on earth.

    “When I became the governor of Oyo State in 2019, I was the eighth civilian or executive governor of Oyo State and the significance of eight in the Bible depicts a new beginning. So, the journey has been a new beginning for Oyo State. I didn’t plan it.

    “I tell people that I am not ashamed to say I don’t have a godfather, I only have God the father. Some of the people are upset; they said I came to them to ask for support to be elected. Yes, you go somewhere to seek support. Does that make the person your godfather?

    “So, God has been so merciful to us, and we will continue to operate in accordance with the will and dictates of God for us.’’

    “God has brought a particular governor at a particular time to signify a new beginning for Oyo State. My charge to you as we celebrate this 50th anniversary of Oyo State is that we should not go back to where we were coming from. Let us stay focused.

    “We have a team that is still intact. It is only Seyi Makinde that will go out; members of the team are there to continue to work for the people of Oyo State. We will continue to operate in accordance with the will and dictates of God for Oyo State.”

    Obi lauded Makinde’s leadership style and transformation agenda.

    He said: “It is always an honour to be in Ibadan. I was here on Tuesday to visit the university and I was telling somebody that this is a historic town where all of us, as Nigerians, come because it is a city of knowledge and a city of hope.

    “The people who came with me said you don’t know how this place has changed and I appreciate the preacher on what he said about how the state has developed under Governor Seyi Makinde.

    “I thank Governor Makinde for faithfully serving the people. As you celebrate this 50th anniversary, I pray that the next 50 years of this great state will be exemplary. May God continue to bless our governor and all the members of his team. I was here at the onset of his government. I was one of those that were brought in to talk to his commissioners and I thank him for his exceptional work.’’

    In his sermon titled: “Gratitude,” the Archbishop of Ibadan Province, The Most Rev’d Williams Aladekugbe, said God had been good to Oyo State. He hailed past leaders who contributed to the growth of the state in the last 50 years.

    He congratulated the governor on his people-oriented programme, which he said, had shaped the state and brought about infrastructure development, improved workers and pensioners’ welfare and peaceful coexistence, among others.

  • Makinde turning emergency opposition mouthpiece, says Fayose

    Makinde turning emergency opposition mouthpiece, says Fayose

    Ekiti State former governor Ayodele Fayose has said Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is turning to an emergency opposition mouthpiece.

    Fayose in a statement yesterday in Lagos said: ‘’Makinde’s derogatory comment against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s birthday has further confirmed that he got a cold shoulder from the President during his last visit to the Villa.

    ‘’Like I made public, in his attempt to do a damage control on his public speech against the President, Makinde met the shock of his political life when he visited Asiwaju Tinubu last week.

    Read Also: Tinubu embarks on state visit to Türkiye to deepen diplomatic, economic ties

    ‘’It is now obvious that after getting that cold shoulder from the President, Makinde must have realised that end of road has come in terms of reconciliation between him and the President. This is moreso that Asiwaju made it clear that as far as Oyo State is concerned, he will support his party’s candidates in 2027.

    ‘’The emergency opposition mouthpiece Makinde is trying albeit unsuccessfully to turn himself to is an aftermath of the response he got from the President last week, which I made public.

    ‘’Furthermore, it has vindicated me because if Makinde had gotten a soft-landing that he expected from the President, he (Makinde) wouldn’t have gone to make that statement, condemning the administration of President Tinubu, by calling the President a dictator while praising the Buhari administration.

    ‘’With these assurances too, the APC in Oyo State should now wake up and slug it out with Makinde’s candidate, which he will field under the ADC, knowing that PDP won’t be open for him to use.’’

  • JUST IN: Makinde meets Tinubu in Villa

    JUST IN: Makinde meets Tinubu in Villa

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is currently in the State House, Abuja, for a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, raising fresh political speculation amid ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Makinde, a key leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arrived at the State House shortly after the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who recently defected from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and proceeded directly to the President’s office.

    The Oyo State governor was one of five PDP governors—popularly known as the G-5—who opposed the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election and worked against the party’s ticket.

    The group argued that the PDP’s zoning arrangement favoured a southern presidential candidate after the eight-year tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Other members of the G-5 were former Rivers State governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, former Benue State governor Samuel Ortom, ex-Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    However, Makinde and Wike have since fallen out.

    Read Also: NPS attack: Makinde announces N5m compensation, scholarships to victims’ families

    In a recent interview, the Oyo governor said the rift stemmed from a meeting involving President Tinubu in which Wike allegedly pledged to “hold PDP” for the President ahead of the 2027 election without the consent of other party stakeholders.

    “I was in a meeting with the President and Wike and a few others, and Wike said to the President that I will hold PDP for you against 2027. So, we got up, and I asked Wike, did we agree to this,” Makinde said.

    Makinde stressed that while Wike is entitled to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid, others within the PDP have a right to resist moves they believe could weaken democratic pluralism.

    “The real issue is that Wike would like to support the President in 2027, that’s fine; it’s within his right to do that. But some of us want democracy to survive in Nigeria. We don’t want to drift into a one-party state, and we want to ensure that PDP survives”, he said.

    He added that the President did not solicit Wike’s pledge, describing it as unsolicited.

    “The President did not ask him; he volunteered it,” Makinde said, noting that attempts to persuade Wike to reconsider were unsuccessful.

    “That is why I will never support the President for 2027,” Makinde added, affirming his independence in making political decisions.

    As of the time of filing this report, the agenda of the meeting between President Tinubu and Governor Makinde had not been disclosed.

  • NPS attack: Makinde announces N5m compensation, scholarships to victims’ families

    NPS attack: Makinde announces N5m compensation, scholarships to victims’ families

    …says three suspects in custody

    Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has announced a compensation of N5 million each to the families of the five Forest Guards killed recently at the Old Oyo National Park.

    He also awarded scholarships up to the university level to the children of the deceased guards.

    This is as the government confirmed the arrest of three suspects with links to the attack that shattered the peace of the Park earlier in the month.

    The governor spoke when he paid an on-the-spot assessment to the scene of the incident at Oloka Village, Oriire Local Government Area, Ogbomoso.

    Additionally, he promised to rehabilitate the road leading to the Oloka community from Ikoyi-Ile under the Rural Access and Agricultural Market Project (RAAMP) for easy movement, ensure improved telecommunication service and also install boreholes as well as solar-powered street lights in the community.

    The governor also said the state would put up a sustained joint security effort for the people of the community.

    Governor Makinde, who commiserated with the people of the community and the affected families, assured residents of the state that his administration would redouble its efforts to strengthen the security architecture of the state and make living in the community easy for them.

    He also said that he would write a letter to the military authorities in Abuja, requesting the establishment of a military base in Oloka to further strengthen security in the community.

    He noted, however, that the issue of security is a collective responsibility and not the business of government alone, urging the residents of the state to always tip off the government and the security agencies when they notice any suspicious activity in their communities.

    The governor commended the service commanders for their support, dedication, and commitment to securing the lives and properties of the people.

    He said, “I thank every one of you in Oloka and pray that we won’t experience such an event again. I want to say that whatever is expected of the government to do to ensure you are all safe and secure, we will do it.

    “It is quite unfortunate, and I pray that God will uphold the families left behind by those who were killed.

    “The reason I decided to come by myself is for me to see the environment and the challenges our security agencies might be facing. One of them is communication. I want to assure you that we will pay for the telecommunication companies to come and install masts here.

    “For the bandits and those causing problems here, we will ensure that you feel the presence of our fortified security from now on.

    “For the families that lost their loved ones to the unfortunate incident, each of them will be given N5 Million. They should send their representatives to us on Monday. For those who left children among the deceased, I will sign a scholarship for their children up to the university level.

    “We are working very hard with our service commanders to ensure we put every necessary thing in place as a touching clearance operation in the Old Oyo National Park. We will redouble our efforts.”

    The governor later led the people to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the deceased.

    Earlier in his remark, the Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Security, CP Fatai Owoseni (rtd), hinted that three key suspects involved in the killing of the five National Forest Guards have been arrested and are currently undergoing further investigation.

    Owoseni said, “Your Excellency has been briefed adequately on the nature of the incident, but as you have always done, Sir, you chose to come to see for yourself exactly what happened.

    “As we are here today, I can tell you, Sir, that three key suspects directly involved in that incident have been arrested, and our security commanders are working on them.

    “The security commanders will live up to Your Excellency’s words that bandits will not be given a space to operate in Oyo State.”

    He commended the governor for his dedication and support to the security operatives in the state, assuring him that the security agencies would not relent in ensuring the security of lives and properties in the state.

  • Alaafin absent as Makinde inaugurates Olubadan as chairman, council of Obas, chiefs

    Alaafin absent as Makinde inaugurates Olubadan as chairman, council of Obas, chiefs

    Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday inaugurated the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as the chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

    Olubadan will chair the council for the next two years before it is rotated to another Oba.

    The Nation reports that the Council last met in 2011.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, was absent at the event.

    Read Also: Tradition, not rivalry shaped Alaafin’s conduct, says Agunbiade

    Over 40 monarchs from across the state were at the event, which was held at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

    Recall that after years of tussle, the House approved the rotation of the chairmanship of the Council between the Alaafin, Olubadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso

  • Governor Makinde justifies SSG’s sack

    Governor Makinde justifies SSG’s sack

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday justified his decision to sack Prof. Olanike Adeyemo as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    Apparently reacting to speculations surrounding the removal of the don, the governor said it was a routine decision, noting that the former SSG did not do anything wrong.

    READ ALSO; Between Wike and Fubara

    He spoke while swearing in the newly-appointed SSG, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, assuring the citizens that his administration would finish strong by delivering on its commitment to good governance and sustainable development.

    The governor said Babatunde, a Professor of Economics at the University of Ibadan, had been with him for years, and understood the working of the government.

    Speaking with reporters after the event, Prof Babatunde pledged to ensure efficient and effective service delivery through improved coordination of government activities.

  • Plea to Makinde and Oba Ladoja on Onido stool crisis

    Plea to Makinde and Oba Ladoja on Onido stool crisis

    Sir: For nearly two decades, Ido has lived with an uncomfortable contradiction: a town with history, land, and promise, yet without a settled traditional leadership. What should have been a unifying institution has instead become a symbol of confusion, contestation, and stagnation. The lingering crisis over who truly occupies the stool of the Onido of Ido is no longer just a traditional dispute; it is a development emergency.

    Ido, a strategic border town between Ibadan and the Ibarapa zone and one of the local government areas within the Ibadan metropolitan structure, ought to be thriving. Its proximity to Ibadan, fertile land, and growing population should place it on a steady path of economic and social growth. Instead, unresolved traditional leadership disputes have slowed progress, scared away investors, and denied the town its fair share of government attention.

    Now, at the centre of the problem is a succession crisis that has produced three claimants to the Onido stool. For the people of Ido, this is not merely about titles or prestige. It is about legitimacy, order, and the authority required to attract development and maintain peace. A community cannot move forward when its traditional leadership remains unsettled.

    Historically, Ido was headed by a Baale, with recognised ruling houses under the Agura family tree, Akinyemi, Alalade, Dada-Pero, and Okanlawon. The elevation of Baales to Obas during the agitation for the creation of Ibadan State changed the traditional landscape, and Ido was not exempt from the consequences of that transition. Oba Benjamin Ademola Ishola Orobiyi II’s coronation in 1997 as the Onido of Ido was part of this broader restructuring of Ibadanland’s traditional system.

    However, what followed exposed the fragility of that transition. His suspension and deposition in 2007, the installation of Tajudeen Adeosun (Akinola Agura), the subsequent legal battles, and the prolonged court processes created a leadership vacuum that has never truly been filled. Each intervention, rather than resolving the issue conclusively, appeared to deepen the fault lines.

    Read Also: U.S. $15,000 visa bond requirement for Nigerians, others begins Jan 21

    The brief reign and eventual suspension of Oba Tajudeen Akinola Agura, amid allegations of abuse of office and forgery, further eroded public confidence in the traditional institution. Then came Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola (Gbadewolu I), whose suspension in 2024 over alleged security concerns, followed by his reinstatement, only added another layer of complexity to an already tangled situation.

    Today, the reality is cold: Oba Benjamin Ademola Ishola Orobiyi II, Tajudeen Akinola Agura, and Oba Gbolagade Muritala Babalola are all, in one way or another, laying claim to the Onido stool. For a town yearning for stability, this is an untenable situation.

    The danger is not abstract. Traditional institutions still command deep loyalty in many Nigerian communities. When legitimacy is disputed, tensions can easily spill over into conflict. Ido has so far avoided large-scale violence, but history teaches that unresolved traditional crises rarely remain dormant forever.

    This is why the appeals to Governor Seyi Makinde, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, and relevant traditional authorities should not be treated as routine petitions. They are a call to prevent a looming crisis and to restore order to a community that has waited far too long.

    Oba Ladoja, in particular, enjoys a reputation for firmness and fairness. Many in Ido believe that his leadership presents a rare opportunity for a decisive and credible resolution. That confidence should not be wasted.

    Ultimately, this crisis is a pointer that tradition, when left unresolved, can become a barrier rather than a bridge to development. Ido does not need another temporary fix or political compromise. It needs clarity, finality, and justice, delivered in a way that respects history while securing the town’s future. Until that happens, Ido will remain a town with one stool but too many kings, and a community paying the price for uncertainty.

    •Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun,<thedreamchaser65@gmail.com>