Following the Eid-el Fitr celebrations marking the end of Ramadan, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has issued a strong caution against divisive behaviors concerning the Olubadan throne, the coming local government election, and controversies surrounding the succession to the Olubadan throne, calling on all concerned parties to focus on issues that unite the people rather than divide them.
According to Westernmirror.com reports, Makinde, who felicitates with the Muslim faithful, emphasized the importance of unity during this Ramadan festive season as well as the period of mourning the late Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun.
While addressing newsmen at his Ikolaba private residence on Wednesday April 10 shortly after Muslim, state and federal lawmakers, political leaders as well as state executive council members returned from from Eid prayer, Makinde urged all stakeholders to prioritize harmony over discord.
Recent developments surrounding the Olubadan of Ibadan throne have sparked tensions and controversies within Ibadan, as the Olubadan in Council appeared to have been polarized into factions while different interpretations continue to trail the amended Oyo state Chiefs Law 2022.
In light of these controversies, Governor Makinde has called for restraint and peaceful approach to resolve all issues emanating from who succeeds the late Olubadan of Ibadanland saying whatever the Olubadan in Council resolved to do is subject to his final ratification as the Governor.
Makinde stressed that the Olubadan throne holds immense significance for the people of Ibadan and indeed Oyo State as a whole adding that it is imperative that to approach issues with a spirit of cooperation and goodwill.
“One of the lessons of Ramadan is discipline, for that 30 days, we disciplined our body even our body may be seeking for nutrients and food but we said no, we had to discipline the body so, it’s a lesson we have to imbibe in our daily lives and we should use this experience in Ibadan.
“At Eid today, all tendencies, people that hitherto, maybe we had differences, we’re all together, we’re all united now, so, it’s a new Oyo state that is evolving where everybody is coming on board so, those whose stock in trade is to look at things that divide us, they should look for something else to do.
“Before I came in, they kept talking about oh, Ibadan traditional system has got issues and all of that. The Obas in Council are yet to meet to make their nomination and when they make it, it will come to me and I will either say yes or no, that hasn’t happened so, why are our people focusing on things that are dividing us? So, I use this opportunity to say, let’s focus on things that will unite us.” Makinde said.
Speaking on the forthcoming April 27 local government election, Makinde called on residents to go out en masse and vote assuring that all measures to guarantee a free, fair, and credible election have been put in place.
Berating some speculations in the media concerning the coming council poll, Makinde said his administration has accomplished a milestone that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government failed to achieve for seven years.
Makinde said his administration successfully conducted local government election under his first term and ready to conduct another one notong that it took the APC government seven years to conduct same election in its eight years of two terms.
“For the upcoming local government election, our people should come out, it’s less than three weeks away. And for those that would like to look at things that are negative, they did not conduct local government election for seven years out of their own eight years, we’ve done one, and we’re doing another one.
“We’re not allowing any gap. This thing was planned, we funded it because we want to show that at that level of governance, we take it as serious as other levels, and our people, I know they know the difference between federal, state, and local government election, they demonstrated it about a year ago.” Makinde added.
