Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose warned on Sunday that the Oyo State Government, headed by Governor Seyi Makinde, was preparing to remove the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rahidi Adewolu Ladoja. Fayose's allegation, reported by DAILY POST, claimed the removal would commence within the week. Both Governor Makinde and Oba Ladoja rejected the accusation, describing it as unfounded and a baseless rumour. On Tuesday, Fayode used his official X account to repeat the claim, urging skeptics to "keep their fingers crossed and follow unfolding events." He quoted himself, saying, "Those who are still in doubt Governor Seyi Makinde's plot to remove the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rahidi Adewolu Ladoja, should just keep their fingers crossed and follow unfolding events." Fayose added that after denying the plot, the state government had turned around and accused the Olubadan of "plotting to impeach Governor Makinde." He also said the government was "releasing statements accusing the Olubadan of being partisan," reinforcing his earlier allegation.
Fayose's repeated insistence that Governor Makinde is scheming against the Olubadan signals a deepening rift between two influential regional figures. By framing the governor's actions as a "plot" and suggesting a retaliatory accusation of impeachment, Fayose is casting the dispute as a power struggle rather than a mere rumor.
The episode unfolds against a backdrop of heightened political sensitivities in Oyo State, where the Olubadan traditionally wields considerable cultural authority. Makinde's administration has previously faced criticism for perceived partisanship, and Fayose's claim that the government is now branding the monarch as partisan feeds into existing tensions between traditional institutions and elected officials.
For ordinary Ibadan residents, the controversy could translate into uncertainty over local governance and cultural representation. If the dispute escalates, it may affect community projects linked to the Olubadan's patronage and could polarise public opinion along political lines, especially among supporters of Makinde and those loyal to the traditional throne.
This clash mirrors a broader pattern in Nigerian politics where disputes between elected leaders and traditional rulers surface, often reflecting competing claims to legitimacy and influence within the same jurisdiction.
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