Oyo State government has said former Governor and Osi Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has not communicated his rejection of the obaship conferred on him.
Ladoja yesterday declared that the state governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi has shown that he was the prime target of the review of Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
Ladoja noted that by asking him to either “join in the mockery of obaship and agree to be made a government-appointed oba” or forfeit his right to the throne, Ajimobi has openly demonstrated that he was the target.
Ladoja through his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, said he remained the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland and would neither agree to being a government-appointed oba with no domain, chiefs and subjects nor “support attempt at desecrating the Olubadan throne”.  The former governor said “thousands of Ajimobi can’t stop Ladoja from becoming the Olubadan if it is the will of God,” and that he should stop playing God.
“High Chief Ladoja believes that only God chooses the Olubadan as clearly demonstrated in the divine enthroned of the current Olubadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, who was three steps to the throne.
“May God lengthen the years and reign of Oba Adetunji in sound health. We will like to make it clear that thousands of Ajimobi can’t stop Ladoja from becoming the Olubadan if it is the will of God.”
Reacting, the Oyo government insisted it was unaware of Ladoja’s position.
Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bimbo Kolade, spoke at a media briefing at the Film Theatre of the Ministry of Information, Agodi secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.
Kolade said Ladoja only said “he would not be available to receive the crown at the event”.
The commissioner explained that based on the reason, “his beaded-crown would be kept until he is available to receive it”.
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