Fayose Under Fire for Linking Governor Makinde to Plot Against Ibadan Monarch

FORMER Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has come under heavy fire from various quarters in Oyo State following his allegations of a clandestine plot by Governor Seyi Makinde to depose the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.

The outburst, which has sparked widespread condemnation across the state, saw the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the Olubadan’s palace, and the state government uniting in a rare consensus to rebuke the former governor for what they termed “reckless and provocative” interference in the traditional affairs of Ibadan.

Fayose had claimed via his official social media handle that he possessed reliable intelligence regarding an impending query to be issued to the monarch this week. He alleged the move was a retaliatory measure for the Olubadan’s absence at a recent coronation of High Chiefs, a claim that stakeholders have now labeled a “dangerous fabrication.”

Leading the charge against the former Ekiti governor, the CCII President-General, Chief Ajeniyi Ajewole, issued a stern warning, telling Fayose to “keep his mouth shut” and refrain from inflaming the polity. The council expressed deep concern that such “unverified statements” were capable of inciting unrest in a city that prides itself on its orderly traditional succession and respect for the stool.

“Fayose has no role, traditional or political, in the structure of Ibadanland,” the CCII stated, further describing his intervention as an “unwarranted external attempt” to destabilize the peace of the ancient city for political gain.

Adding to the backlash, the Olubadan’s media aide, Adeola Oloko, dismissed the notion of any rift between the Governor and the monarch. He noted that the claim of an impending query was non-existent and aimed at creating “distrust among residents.”

The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, also joined the fray, asserting that the government had never contemplated such a move. He maintained that Governor Makinde holds the institution of the Olubadan in the highest regard and cautioned against the “politicization of sacred traditions.”

As the controversy continues to ripple through the state, observers noted that Fayose’s remarks have effectively backfired, drawing a protective shield around the Olubadan and Governor Makinde from the very stakeholders he seemingly sought to alert.