Babylon is crumbling.
That is what I told a Radio presenter a couple of days ago, when he asked me a question about how the All Progressives Congress, APC intends to convince the electorates against voting for Governor Seyi Makinde’s anointed candidates in 2027.
I told him point blank that the Governor of Oyo state is presiding over a crumbling empire and that, before the 2027 election, the empire would collapse.
My Host asked if I am clairvoyant and I told him that a sequence is building and it points only to one conclusion, Governor Makinde’s empire will collapse, even before the 2027 general election.
No man, no matter how powerful, can sustain a battle on different fronts, as Governor Makinde is presently doing.
I know that his lickspittles would not like this bitter truth. Actually, they are the foundation of his problems.
Loyalty should not translate to stupidity and deference shouldn’t demand foolishness.
I know they will go into another frenzy, hitting their heads against each other, hissing like rattle snakes and cursing all day long.
I don’t care a hoot.
In fact, I always enjoy their frustrations each time they became angry at my write ups.
That means the punches landed very well.
Although, sometimes, I worry about how these bunch of ‘olentelafas’ will quickly forget how the same Seyi Makinde haunted and hounded the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi when he, Seyi Makinde, was in the opposition.
I am also, always curious about how these idle fellows felt, when Governor Seyi Makinde asked the Press to hold him accountable for his actions as the Governor of Oyo state.
As Governor of a state, Governor Seyi Makinde is not a tin-god.
He is accountable to the people who gave him a mandate and in whose trusts, he is holding power.
Governor Makinde’s attack dogs have been going against the Ibadan born Fuji Musician, Saheed Osupa since yesterday.
What is Saheed Osupa’s sin?
The gentleman was one of the Musicians who performed at the Declaration of gubernatorial ambition by Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Ali.
I think the Governor’s supporters got angry at the very powerful messages passed by Saheed Osupa, most especially, his adorations of the Olubadan of Ibadan Land, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Honestly, Osupa hit so hard but, the gentleman was just doing his job as an entertainer.
If I’m not mistaken, I think Saheed Osupa has sang the praises of Governor Seyi Makinde in the past.
On the day of the Coronation of this same Olubadan, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, Governor Makinde’s favorite Fuji Musician, Taye Currency entertained the world with all manner of, what some saw as absurd lyrics. ( Were la fi nwo Were).
If Governor Seyi Makinde’s supporters saw nothing wrong in Taye Currency’s absurd performance at the Coronation of Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, why should they be angry at Osupa’s declaration that any Ibadan son or daughter who refuses to follow the wishes of the Olubadan is a bastard?
I am sure that they are angry at Osupa for daring to make such a declaration.
I know that Governor Seyi Makinde is having sleepless nights these days.
I know that he and his kitchen Cabinet are conceiving of several ideas to wriggle out of the tight corner they have found themselves.
Unfortunately, the odds against them are massive.
There is no point of strength for them to fight from again.
A friend of mine was asking me why I believe that Governor Seyi Makinde would ever conceive of an idea of removing the Olubadan from his throne and I replied him by telling him a Yoruba proverb.
He who prevented a pregnancy from being terminated prematurely will do everything possible to ensure that when the child is born, it survives. ( Eni ti ko fe ki oyun se, ko nii fe ki Omo ku).
Now, if you don’t want a pregnancy to stay, would you wish that the child lives after its birth?
That is the case between Governor Seyi Makinde and His Imperial Majesty, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.
If Governor Seyi Makinde had his ways, Ladoja would not be Olubadan today, that is the truth all of us have been pretending not to know all this while.
In Governor Seyi Makinde’s shoes, I would also be afraid of a Ladoja as the Olubadan of Ibadan Land.
Most especially, considering the history between them since 2019.
A history of betrayal, unprovoked insults and arrogance meted to the old man by the Governor.
The events that happened between 2019 and 2025 must surely dictate the relationship between the duo of Governor Seyi Makinde and Oba Ladoja, except we want to deceive ourselves.
All along, it’s been a careful and calculated relationship between them and it is normal considering what the Governor had done to the old man in the past.
Governor Seyi Makinde is throwing everything at this battle.
After the failed impeachment allegations against the Olubadan, I am beginning to see another sequence of orchestrated campaigns, subtly aimed at the Olubadan and perhaps, Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Ali.
The current narrative is that, Gazette or no Gazette, once you become an Oba, you should not be participating in politics.
That sounds good but, let me ask the proponents of this theory, why is it, that traditional rulers always receive politicians in their Palace for royal blessings before and during political campaigns?
Why is it that the Palace are the first place to be visited by politicians any time they are campaigning for election?
Should we also stop that practice?
There is no way we would discuss this matter without having recourse to Law and practice and while practice will always be practice, it doesn’t have binding effects like the Law.
The Oyo state Gazette which prohibits Crown wearing Ibadan High Chiefs from participating in politics is a Law but does it guide the conduct of our Federal elections?
The answer is a capital NO.
The conduct of Federal elections are guided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I challenge anyone to show me where these statutes prohibit someone who is a High Chief from participating in an election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In fact, I am surprised that many of us have forgotten that the Olubadan of Ibadan Land was challenging that Gazette in Court and was coerced to withdraw the case he instituted against the Gazette by Governor Makinde.
We all know the circumstances that surrounded his reluctant acceptance of the Crown when he was elevated the other time.
Governor Seyi Makinde didn’t manage the relationship between himself and Oba Ladoja well and he is now mortally afraid of the consequences.
I said Babylon is crumbling.
Yes. It is. In fact, the foundations are beginning to give the final signs before a collapse.
All the unnecessary distractions we have been witnessing recently, are reactionary measures from the camp of the Governor.
I have warned Governor Seyi Makinde about the problems associated with the winding up of the tenure of a state Governor but I don’t think he took my warning.
You begin to lose influence. You begin to get confused and disoriented.
At that point, you need good people, people of experience, people of good conscience, who could help you navigate through the challenges but, sadly, Governor Makinde doesn’t have such men around him.
All these while, he has been carrying on, acting according to his wishes, saying he has no godfather.
It is obvious now that intoxication of power is beginning to clear away from the consciousness of the Governor.
Honestly, he would have gone hard against the Olubadan but I’m sure he is not prepared to lose everything as at now.
Thank God for Rivers State. Someone would have done what no one before him ever contemplated as a Governor.
It is obvious that the Governor and his followers are now so confused and jittery.
They are the ones who orchestrated the fake impeachment plot.
They are the ones who denied it and said it was a fabrication by the APC.
Yet, they are also the ones sponsoring all manner of solidarity walk in support of Governor Seyi Makinde up and down!
Governor Makinde is accusing the Olubadan of planning to impeach him, he has issues with the Alaafin of Oyo at the same time.
The question is, which Monarch is next?
Certainly, Saheed Osupa was correct when he sang about ” a tan ni je” ( the deceiver) and I think that particular reference to the Governor really ruffled the feathers of the Governor’s camp.
I am sure that we would hear from the Fuji Musician very soon because, the gentleman is a no nonsense person and it is certain that he would respond to the vague attacks from Governor Seyi Makinde’s camp.
Oh! I’m enjoying this show.
In the coming days, Governor Makinde would announce his anointed successor and the political platform where his followers would be contesting the 2027 election.
These decisions also have the potential to further rock the boat and I’m patiently waiting for the moment.
In fact, the anointed successor, which has been known by some of us would be in focus and it’s going to be very interesting.
Please, stay tuned.
Sola Abegunde.
