The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji1 has called on Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State not to paint him with the “tar brush of petty partisan politics”.
The monarch, while reacting to the coronation of 21 newly promoted High Chiefs and Baales to the status of Obas, declared that he is a monarch and not a politician.
He said, “As a monarch, I’m a father of all, irrespective of sex, ethnic and ideological persuasions”.
Oba Adetunji in response to a remark credited to the governor during the coronation, stated that the person or group who would use the royal stool of Olubadan for selfish political reason had not been born.
The monarch in a statement made available to DAILY POST Monday evening by his Director, Media and Public Affairs, Adeola Oloko posited that “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 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 were tending towards politics, adding that if the State Governor had any demonstrable evidence of such, he should kindly provide it.
He said that “there is no press statement issued from the Olubadan media office which did not enjoy my blessing before it was made public.
“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 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 Boade 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 for keeping the peace despite the brazen abuse of Ibadan custom and tradition stated that these times would pass.”
Oba Adetunji therefore commended all his brother-monarchs for their solidarity and cooperation, noting that his opposition to the mass coronation exercise was to prevent breakdown of law and order, complication and dire consequences in Ibadan Chieftaincy System.
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