Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state Tuesday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the face-off between him and the Olubadan of Ibadan over the controversial Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
Ajimobi, who was at the Presidential Villa, told the President that the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, ought to be deposed but assured that he would not depose him.
Briefing State House correspondents, the Governor said he told Mr Buhari that a former Governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, who is also planning to succeed him has politicised the Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
His words, “I mentioned the issue of security to the President. Recall that Oyo state has been in the news because of the issue of Olubadan chieftaincy declaration.
“So, I came to let him know that the Olubadan is my father. He is a younger brother to my own father and we have had a very long relationship, which has been father-son relationship.
“I assured him that come rain, come shine, I will never depose the Olubadan because he is a father and a son does not depose his father. Even though he has done so many things that could be used to remove him, I will never remove him. We have to continue to show respect.
“I also made him to realise that the particular chieftaincy declaration is being politicised. Politicians have hijacked it. Out of 11 council members, two of them are dead now and we have only nine remaining.
“It is only one that is not supporting it; and that one that is not supporting it is a politician. He wants to run after I leave office. So I believe that the Olubadan declaration issue is being hijacked by politicians.
“But let’s thank God that elders, stakeholders and well meaning Nigerians have intervened and I think reason will prevail. These are the things I have to let the president know.”
Governor Ajimobi also spoke about infrastructural development in Oyo state, saying “I came to talk to him about infrastructure that we require.
“For instance, we have the Ikere gorge dam in Oyo state, the fourth largest earth dam in the world, stretching almost 50 kilometers. We felt it would provide benefits to us, like in the area of irrigation, water supply both industrial and household.
“Similarly, that dam can provide us with opportunities for farming and energy generation. (It has a reservoir of 690 million cubic metres).
“So, I felt that Ikere gorge dam should be handed over to Oyo state or we participate through PPP in resuscitating the dam such that Oyo state can benefit from all the deliverables from the dam.”
