Makinde, Ibadan elders visit Ladoja

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday evening, visited the former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, at his Ondo Street private residence in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.

The visit, seen by many as reconciliatory, came after Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, agreed to wear the ceremonial beaded crown as Ibadan oba.

Some prominent Ibadan indigenes, led by the Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Amao, alongside the President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Niyi Ajewole and other executive members also visited Ladoja at his residence on Thursday.

Others who visited were the Are Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Daud Akinola;  the Babaloja of Oyo State, Yekini Abass; the compound heads, popularly called Mogajis, led by their President, Chief Asimiyu Ariori; Chairperson of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Dotun Olaitan, and a host of others.

Makinde and Ladoja enjoyed a smooth relationship in the past, culminating in their opposition to the beaded crown when it was first introduced by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.

Riding on the wave of the ill-treatment meted to the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by the Ajimobi administration, Makinde, backed by Ladoja in 2019, defeated the then-governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress backed by Ajimobi, Chief Bayo Adelabu.

Before the late Oba Lekan Balogun could get approval to become the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Makinde forced all the Obas crowned by Ajimobi to drop their crowns and reversed to high chiefs as previously recognised.

The relationship between Makinde and Ladoja became frosty in the build-up to the 2023 election, as the governor approved the wearing of beaded crowns by the high chiefs, against the stand of Ladoja.

On Sunday, Ladoja, at a live programme on Fresh FM 105.9 in Ibadan, the state capital, made a U-turn and publicly announced that he would accept the ceremonial crown.

He, however, said his decision to accept the crown did not make him an oba, as the Olubadan of Ibadanland remained the only recognised monarch in Ibadan.

He said the gazette unveiled during the coronation ceremony for Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the Olubadan of Ibadanland was to make him become an Olubadan.

Makinde, who had since Monday, August 5, 2024, embarked on an annual leave, transmitted power to the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, in a letter sent to the state House of Assembly.

Sources privy to Wednesday’s meeting confided in our correspondent on Thursday that, “Governor Makinde arrived at Ondo Street around 6:00 pm yesterday (Wednesday). They held a closed-door meeting and they both came outside and discussed for a few minutes before the governor took his leave.

“They discussed at length, especially about the progress of Ibadanland in particular and the state in general. They also discussed the ceremonial beaded crown.”

Another source said, “We were excited to receive him (Makinde) yesterday. The governor and Otun Olubadan are on good terms. Forget about what people are saying. The visit was like a son coming to greet his father.”

A source told our correspondent that Amao, who spoke on behalf of others during the visit, thanked Ladoja for accepting the crown and for the way and manner he handled the radio interview on Sunday.

Amao was quoted to have said, “Some of us were disturbed and not happy because Ladoja rejected the crown initially. With his decision to accept it now, he (Ladoja) deserves to be commended.”

Another source privy to the meeting said, “The visitors all praised him. They congratulated him on the bold step. They said his decision not to accept the crown may destroy Ibadanland and for accepting it, they showered encomium on him. Ladoja was full of joy.”

Responding, Ladoja was said to have appreciated them for the visit and assured them that he would continue to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the town in particular and the state in general.

When contacted, one of Ladoja’s aides, Adeola Oloko, confirmed the visit and declined further comment.

“Yes, they were all here this evening. The delegation was led by the Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Bode Amao,” he said.

It was further gathered that plans were already concluded for Ladoja to wear the crown.

The presentation of the beaded crown, which ought to have taken place this week, was said to have been postponed till next week, after the meeting of Olubadan-In-Council at the ultramodern palace at Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.