A socio-political group, Oyo Progress Upholders, has cautioned Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s closest ally who is of Osun descent and 5 Ibadan Mogajis against dabbling into partisan politics, warning that such actions risk eroding the integrity of the Ibadan traditional system.
The group issued the warning in a statement on Wednesday, reacting to what it described as a “calculated plan” to implicate some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress and “rubbish” the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
The Oyo Progress Upholders, in a joint statement by Ajibola Joshua and Lekan Jaleel, said the 5 Ibadan Mogajis, one of whom is a senior chief, who are romancing the ruling party in the state are being noted for their moves and actions adding that posterity will judge them.
It said the 5 mogajis are known for dining with any government in power and that leave when administration ends to join a new one.
“Jolted by the visit of some top monarchs and All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders to President Bola Tinubu, the governor’s ally summoned the meeting of the senior chief and mogajis. They agreed to blackmail the Olubadan and the APC leaders. The speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin was invited and asked to sign a prepared which he declined. From there, they asked his colleagues to start denouncing him and implicate the monarch and the APC leaders. They even asked the Atiba local government to query the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, for visiting the president without notice.”
The group added that the Mogajis who have been getting contract and car gifts from the government shouldn’t because of that lost their ‘Omoluabi’ ethos.
“These few Ibadan Mogajis must stop partisanship and uphold the traditional system that has kept Ibadanland united for centuries. The stool of the Olubadan is a symbol of identity and continuity. It must not be desecrated on the altar of politics,” the statement read.
The group added that the Ibadan traditional institution has historically remained above political contestation and should not be dragged into the current political undercurrents in the state.
The group alleged that there is an ongoing scheme to link the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja and other prominent APC leaders to an impeachment plot against Governor Seyi Makinde, while simultaneously using the narrative to undermine the monarch. It described the move as mischievous and capable of plunging the state into needless tension.
According to Oyo Progress Upholders, traditional leaders and family heads in Ibadanland owe the people a duty of neutrality and institutional protection, especially at a time when the state requires stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The plan to implicate APC chieftains and rubbish the Olubadan is dead on arrival. No responsible Ibadan indigene will support any attempt to rubbish our revered monarch or weaponise our traditional structure for political gains,” the group stated.
It urged the Mogajis, Baales, and other stakeholders in the Ibadan traditional council to rise above political affiliations and preserve the sanctity of the succession system and royal protocols that have distinguished Ibadan among Yoruba cities.
Oyo Progress Upholders further called on security agencies and well-meaning elders to intervene and ensure that the traditional institution is not manipulated by political actors seeking advantage.
“Ibadan’s peace is non-negotiable. The traditional system is not a tool for blackmail or propaganda. We must all protect it,” the group added.
