Ladoja, Olubadan, Makinde Taunt Ajimobi, Say Obas’ Coronation Diversionary

As criticisms continue to trail Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s move to install 32 new kings for Ibadan, the Oyo state capital today, a development largely seen as unprecedented, one of the newly appointed kings and former Governor of the state, Chief Rashidi Ladoja has described the gesture as ‘a Greek gift, unsolicited and self-serving’; one intended to distract the people of the state from the “many misdeeds of the current administration.”

Ladoja, who was the Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land before Friday evening’s elevation to the position of His Royal Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja told newsmen yesterday that the presentation of letters of conferment as kingship to some of the high chiefs and others numbering about 30, was the height of illegality and desecration of the stool of Olubadan of Ibadan land.

Penultimate Friday, the committee on the review of the chieftaincy matters in Ibadan had submitted its report to the Governor, who in turn vowed to implement same by as early as next month.

Those who spoke against today’s coronation billed for the Mapo Hall Ibadan also included the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who has again distanced himself from the move to install new kings.

Another speaker was a frontline politician in the state, Mr. Seyi Makinde who pledged allegiance to the monarch when he paid a courtesy visit on him as he clocked another year on earth.

Ladoja said, “What the governor is doing is to create distraction for the people in order to take their minds off the misdeed of his government. Since the issue of Olubadan came up, is anybody talking about poor education in the state, the closure of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology for two years, bad roads in the state or poor state of health?