Dare Babalola
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has dismissed allegations linking him to a purported plan to unseat Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
In a statement released on Tuesday through his media aide, Adeola Oloko, the monarch described the claim as untrue and cautioned against dragging the revered Olubadan institution into political disputes.
The statement reads partly, “The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has refuted claims that Kabiyesi was planning to unseat the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde. To say the least, this is a lie.”
The development comes amid recent tensions following separate allegations suggesting a rift between the governor and the monarch, including claims of a plot to remove Ladoja from the Olubadan stool.
Both the monarch and the state government had earlier dismissed those allegations as unfounded, while also criticising former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who publicly made the claims.
Fayose had alleged that the Oyo State Government was planning to dethrone Ladoja over his absence at the elevation ceremony of High Chief Sharafadeen Ali in Ibadan.
Reacting at the time, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, denied the allegation, insisting that no such plan had been contemplated or discussed.
Addressing the latest claim, Ladoja emphasised that a traditional ruler lacks the constitutional authority to remove an elected governor, adding that even the removal of a local government chairman does not fall within the powers of a monarch.
He also expressed concern over what he described as contradictory narratives emerging around the issue, particularly coming on the heels of earlier claims involving both the Olubadan stool and the Oyo State Government.
