The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, yesterday urged Governor Abiola Ajimobi not to paint him bad before the public.
The monarch said his decision to oppose the review of the Olubadan chieftaincy system was not political.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs to the palace, Mr Adeola Oloko, the Olubadan said: “As a monarch, I’m a father of all, irrespective of sex, ethnic and ideological persuasions.
“Since Friday, March 4, 2016, when I ascended the exalted throne of Olubadan, I have opened the gate of our palace wide to all manner of people. If you belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour, Accord and/or more, you are most welcome. So, politics has nothing to do with my resistance or opposition to the chieftaincy review spearheaded by the Oyo State government.”
Oba Adetunji described as unfortunate the comment by the governor that recent utterances from the palace tended to be political.
The monarch said if the governor had any demonstrable evidence of such, he should provide it.
According to him, there is no statement issued by the Olubadan Media Office which did not enjoy his blessing before it was made public.
He said: “While I am aware that people react to age differently, I am not old enough to be misinterpreted by anybody, even at 89. Governor Ajimobi stated that he invited us to the Governor’s Office over this matter and visited me in the palace later.
“While this is true, I wish to respectfully state that the Boade Panel was inaugurated on May 19, 2017, His Excellency, Governor Ajimobi, invited me to the Governor’s Office on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, after the panel had sat for four weeks. At that meeting, His Excellency, the Oyo State governor, the High Chiefs and State House correspondents would recall my opposition to the chieftaincy review. My question is: ‘Did anybody put words in my mouth in that recorded tape?’
“When he invited me to his office and visited me in the palace on Sunday, June 18, 2017, the Boade Panel was almost through with its job. When we met at the inner chamber, what the governor came to tell me was that he knew I should have been consulted first. So, it is not true that I was consulted, as claimed by him.
“If I had been consulted, this error would have been avoided. The desecration of the crown would have been averted.”
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, who congratulated all Ibadan people on keeping the peace, assured that these times would pass.
