Fatimah Otunsanya
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, have denied allegations that they attempted to induce members of the Oyo State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Seyi Makinde.
The denials came on Tuesday after the state assembly was thrown into turmoil when individual lawmakers issued statements distancing themselves from alleged discussions between the House Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, and the Olubadan over a purported plot to remove the governor.
The crisis was ignited by a viral statement from the assembly’s Chief Whip, Gbenga Oyekola, which revealed that Ogundoyin had been invited separately by the Olubadan and the former governor’s widow Florence Ajimobi.
According to the statement, the Olubadan advised the Speaker on his governorship ambition and offered to secure him a House of Representatives ticket under the APC, “along with the necessary funds to prosecute the election.”
The Speaker reportedly declined. Oyekola alleged that the invitations were designed to create division within the assembly and pave the way for Makinde’s impeachment.
“I was never invited, never consulted, and was not part of any such meetings or arrangements. I cannot and will not be disloyal to my boss, Governor Seyi Makinde,” Oyekola stated.
Reacting through his media aide, Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan dismissed the allegations as outright falsehoods, warning against dragging the royal throne into partisan politics.
“To say the least, this is a lie. You don’t have to be a former governor or distinguished senator to know that a monarch has no power to impeach a local government chairman, let alone a state governor. Don’t drag the Olubadan throne into dirty politics,” the statement read.
Mrs. Ajimobi, speaking through her media office, described the claims as “entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate act of disinformation” designed to tarnish her reputation.
“At no time did Ajimobi convene, attend or participate in any such meeting with any individual or group for the purpose of discussing impeachment or destabilising the state government,” her statement read, adding that linking her name to such a plot was “malicious political propaganda.”
Speaker Ogundoyin, who found himself at the centre of the storm, also denied receiving money from APC proxies to facilitate the impeachment, while acknowledging that he was approached with inducements he rejected outright.
“No money exchanged hands at any meeting. The rumour was fabricated to tarnish my image and destabilise the state government and legislature. I was presented with juicy offers and opportunities, but I declined without hesitation because nothing can sway my conscience or weaken my loyalty to the governor, the party and the people we were elected to serve,” he said.
The Speaker clarified that his visit to the Olubadan was “purely consultative and took place weeks earlier,” adding that he had gone to inform the monarch of his governorship ambition and seek his blessings in keeping with tradition and respect for the throne.
