When the elephant in the folktale was dancing towards a throne of death, those who strapped the talking drums that beat to the ” a o merin joba” lyrics must have been those who, the elephant was used to hearing their praise singing in the past. His lickspittles.
Such people abound everywhere. No matter what you do as a Leader, they will cheer you on. Perhaps, because they had no choice or, maybe, because their daily breads depend on cheering you, anyhow.
Unfortunately, when the day of doom comes, they are always in the forefront, saying, we warned him, but he would never listen to advice.
For some time now, I have resolved to ignore one Dr. Peter Akande who has recently taken it upon himself to defend Governor Seyi Makinde whatever the circumstances are.
I chose to ignore him because, in most cases, he jumps into the Governor’s defense, even on matters where he lacks the locus to intervene.
Sometimes, he even go ahead of himself to defend the Governor, when, in fact, reason demands that he awaits official response from his Government.
Only God knows what he has received or trying to receive from the Governor, because, the energy he is dissipating on Governor Makinde’s matter is just too much and I’m appealing to those who are closer to the Governor to please, ask the Governor to look at his side, if he hasn’t.
I am bound to respond to his latest efforts for certain reasons and chief amongst them is the fact that when you allow a lie or misinformation to pass, people might be deceived to take it as the gospel truth.
Dr. Akande is trying to tell us that Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision not to publicly congratulate the Olubadan of Ibadan Land on his 82nd birthday and first year anniversary does not constitute an insult, ingratitude and disrespect for the stool of the Olubadan of Ibadan Land, H. I. M, Oba Senator, Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa 1.
Perhaps, I will agree with Dr. Akande, however, Governor Seyi Makinde’s attitude is not only bizarre, it is also unheard of. Though, some of us who knows the extent of the bitterness the Governor of Oyo state carries in his heart against perceived enemies are not surprised.
If he had his way, he would prevent the sun from rising on the day Oba Ladoja celebrated those landmark occasions, but, thank God, those were beyond his capacity as an individual or, as Governor of Oyo state.
I have to say here, that Dr. Akande does not know how desperate and cunning the man he is trying to defend is. I won’t put it past Governor Seyi Makinde to suddenly surface at no 28, Ondo street, Bodija private residence of the Olubadan tomorrow and if he does so, grinning from ear to ear at the residence of the Olubadan, what will people like Dr. Akande say?
Like I said, Governor Makinde’s action conveys bitterness and it is bizarre.
If people like Dr Akande does not know, may I educate him that, H. I. M Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja is not only the Olubadan of Ibadan Land, he is also a former Governor of Oyo state and protocol demands that he be congratulated publicly by the Government of Oyo state?
Note, I am not saying Governor of Oyo state. I am saying, the Government of Oyo state, which is bigger than Makinde himself?
Seyi Makinde’s responsibilities to the Olubadan on both occasions is dual. He is the head of the Government of Oyo state and also, a son of Ibadan.
In the absence of at least a public message of congratulations, what other proof is Dr. Akande looking for, because he said he is looking for a proof that the Governor has done something wrong by not congratulating the Olubadan on those two very important occasions.
If, as Seyi Makinde, he is carrying bitterness in his heart, should that have affected the responsibilities of the Oyo state Government to a former Governor and a First class Oba in Oyo state?
It is people like Dr Akande who enjoys to call us, politicians, all manner of names but, I will give an example to buttress my points that it is those who called themselves the elites, who should look more at themselves.
This morning, Senator Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli has publicly congratulated his brother, the former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on his birthday, despite the little issues that are still yet to be fully resolved politically between the duo. It is not only the normal thing to do, it is also civil and Godly.
I am not surprised that Dr. Akande eventually contradicted himself in the course of defending an impossible position.
For example, he is of the opinion that the Olubadan did not pay Governor Seyi Makinde a courtesy visit after he and his wife were honored with a Chieftaincy Title in Eruwa and I asked, which Oba visited the Governor on courtesy after the Chieftaincy Title was conferred on him and his wife?
Is our friend ever aware whether the Olubadan was properly invited for the conferment of Chieftaincy Title on the Governor and his wife? These are matters which, only Government can clarify but our friend would always like to jump ahead of himself.
Is he saying that Governor Seyi Makinde is retaliating against the Olubadan for failing to pay him a courtesy visit after taking a Chieftaincy Title in Eruwa or what?
I am also surprised that our friend felt like, since Governor Seyi Makinde had attended the Coronation ceremony for the Olubadan, then, it is normal if he breaches protocol and refused to do the right thing on his birthday and first year anniversary on the throne.
Sometimes, I used to think my late father was right about his perception of people he called ” alakowe”.
What favor did Governor Makinde do for Ladoja by attending his Coronation as an Oba?
Would the Governor had been missed if he chose to stay away, when the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was physically present?
Who would have noticed his absence on such a day?
By attending the Coronation ceremony, he did himself, not Oba Ladoja a favor and was Alao Akala, an Ogbomoso man not physically present when the Staff of office was presented to the late Oba Odulana Odugade?
Dr Akande is a cunning man and with due respect to him. He will swim up by colouring the Olubadan and spraying him with deodorant and swim downward by passing subtle jabs at the Monarch.
He is of the view that Oba Ladoja deserves respect for his roles in ensuring that Governor Seyi Makinde became Governor in 2019 but, in the same breath, he said and I will quote him, “…… Political support does not create permanent ownership of another person’s political career”!
Imagine those cleverly carved propaganda against the Olubadan.
How is the Olubadan attempting to own Governor Seyi Makinde politically? What is the meaning of this kind of misinformation?
Dr Akande must definitely know something all of us do not know and I challenge him to say what he knows that suggests that the Olubadan is trying to claim ownership of Governor Seyi Makinde’s political career.
He was also emphatic about the fact that the Olubadan should be a father for all politicians. Is he not?
The other time, Bimbo Adekambi said he is so close to the Monarch. I have seen his pictures, sitting down with the Olubadan on his dinning table.
It has not been reported that any of the Gubernatorial candidates sought his audience and he refused to grant them audience.
No one has accused him of being a registered member of a political party. What then is the problem? I have not seen or heard of a Gubernatorial candidate of any of the political parties who alleged that the Olubadan is biased against him. Not even Bimbo Adekambi. So, why would people like Dr Akande choose to wail louder than the bereaved?
I also don’t know when people like Dr Akande will understand the fact that Governor Seyi Makinde has lost the moral grounds to ask Obas to be politically neutral.
On the 16th of March, 2026, the same Governor Makinde was endorsed by the Obas for a second term in office.
It is also public knowledge that a particular first class Oba in Oyo state traversed several Radio stations in 2023, campaigning for his second term in office.
Was it proper for Obas to play politics in support of Governor Seyi Makinde, but when it comes to the turn of another person to enjoy what he himself enjoyed in the past, it becomes evil?
I know that Dr Akande will skip this part when he picks his pen to prepare his usual ” right of reply”.
H. I. M, Oba Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja has celebrated his birthday and first year anniversary on the throne this year and by the Grace of God Almighty, he will celebrate many more.
By the time he celebrate next year, by the Grace of God, we will be having a Governor who appreciates and respects our revered traditional institutions.
The days of the Arobafins must have effectively come to an end before September of 2027 and we will have no need of having this kind of annoying discussion.
Sola Abegunde.
