…Decries Alleged ₦1.5 Billion Budget For “Wasteful” Exercise …Warns Against Desecration Of Ibadan Traditional Protocols Nifemi Peters THE political and traditional landscape of Ibadan was set ablaze over the weekend as Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland, launched a scathing attack on the processes surrounding the recent elevation of High Chiefs to Obaship status. Alli, a seasoned legal practitioner and media professional, described the ongoing coronation activities as nothing more than a “theatre performance,” alleging that the exercise is being used as a front for massive financial waste. Addressing a gathering of traditional stakeholders, Senator Alli questioned the procedural integrity of the crowning ceremony, particularly the attempt to install monarchs in a manner that bypasses long-standing customs. ”What they are doing today is just like someone performing in a theatre,” the Senator declared. “Our father, Abiola, told us—he said they don’t put a crown on a head that has no leader behind it. You, our elders, see that they have never made someone a king or placed a crown on someone’s head when the King is not present.” The lawmaker emphasized that the absence of the paramount ruler during such a significant transition renders the exercise a mere spectacle rather than a legitimate traditional rite. The most explosive revelation in the Senator’s address was the allegation of a ₦1.5 Billion budget purportedly earmarked for the ceremonies. Alli slammed the figure as “wasteful spending” and suggested that the shifting of dates for the events was a tactical move to justify the expenditure. ”You want to blow three different trumpets for the crown because you have a target you are chasing,” Alli alleged. “Then you say you want to cancel this thing and postpone it to another day, all because of the wasteful spending you want to do—spending 1.5 Billion Naira just to cause a nuisance. They are looking for a way to siphon that money; that is exactly what they are doing.” Despite his sharp criticism of the process, Senator Alli clarified that his stance was not a declaration of war against the state leadership. He pointed out that while he maintains a “dear elder brother” relationship with the Deputy Governor, certain political interests are fueling the crisis. ”The people pushing the Governor are the problem, because there is no fight between us. But some people are pushing them, and some of your own party members are among them,” he added. Closing his address with a firm warning, the Senator insisted that the internal traditional affairs of Ibadan would not be dictated by external forces or political maneuvers. ”Since the matter has come out into the open, let’s speak plainly: there is nothing anyone can do to anyone. They won’t bring anyone to come and impose themselves on Ibadan, or anywhere else,” he concluded. As of press time, the Oyo State Government has yet to react to the allegations regarding the ₦1.5 Billion budget. However, the development has sparked intense debate across the state capital, with many calling for a transparent breakdown of the costs associated with the chieftaincy reforms. https://www.facebook.com/reel/944293911520274 Post navigation Is the ADC Handing the 2027 Election to the Major Parties on a Platter “HE GOT F9!” — APC Scribe Basiru Slams Adeleke’s Governance, Mocks Governor’s Late Academic Records
