Governor Seyi Makinde’s handshake has gone beyond the elbow in the way he has been trampling on the cherished custom of ascension of the Olubadan Stool.
Those who have been overtly or covertly supporting the Governor to cut his nose in a bid to spite his face are doing him and his legacy no good.
Oyo state Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy affairs yesterday announced that the Governor had approved the nomination of the Olubadan designate and stopped at that.
That information is stale and doesn’t sit well with anyone apart from the Governor and those who think he should destroy the system.
What Ibadan and the whole world expected from the Governor was a date for the presentation of the staff and instruments of office to the Olubadan.
The Governor must have been under serious pressure from the public as a result of the press briefing of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan Land on Sallah Day.
The Ibadan High Chief had made some points that opened the eyes of the public to the truth about the procedures for enthroning an Olubadan.
The Olubadan himself, Oba Owolabi Olakuleyin through some public appearances also put a lie to the deliberate twisting of facts by the Governor.
Rather than redeeming himself by announcing the date for the presentation of the staff and instruments of office to the Olubadan, Governor Makinde still felt there is still room to play a little mischief.
That statement yesterday is not only empty, it is hypocritical to say the least.
It is as well as saying nothing.
The position of the Governor in that statement did not move an inch away from the confusion he elicited in his speech of the 8th of June.
It is only a gullible person who will take the Governor serious about him doing or saying something different from his infamous ” when he is strong enough”.
I don’t know why those who are close to Governor Makinde have refused to tell him the truth that there no hiding place any longer.
He has embarrassed both himself and the great Land of Ibadan enough.
I have kept wondering exactly what he wishes to gain from his intentions to have everything under his control including the Traditional Institutions.
As it is, hasn’t he got enough?
He is the Governor of the state, the Leader of the PDP in the South West, he does whatever pleases him with the 33 Local Governments but he must have all the Obas in Oyo state under his feet.
That ambition is too big even for him.
I thought this is the time he ought to be reflecting on what his former colleagues, most especially, the G-5 are currently passing through.
Even, their leader, the ” almighty” Nyesom Wike is not finding it funny.
Good names they say, is better than Silver or Gold.
It seems Governor Makinde doesn’t care about whatever happens to his name in future and this is where I think his family should come in.
It takes only the King of a Town to have one ear before the Town will be referred to as the Town of those with one ear.
Eni kan soso nii keti nilu ti gbogbo ilu fi ndi aketi.
This misadventures will not only rub on Governor Seyi Makinde, it will haunt his family whether anyone likes it or not.
What exactly does the Governor want with the thrones of the Monarchs?
Just as he has refused to bulge in Ibadan, he has tenaciously held on to the throne of the Alaafin of Oyo!
From his actions, Governor Makinde have exposed himself as one who harbours a deep interest in the Stools of the Olubadan and the Alaafin.
Even though, he dare not make his interest public.
The Governor must be reminded that as at today, he has less than three years to cling to the office he presently occupies and only God Almighty knows who will be in that office after him.
What is certain is that he will definitely account for his deeds while in that office.
I saw a picture of former Speaker, Governor of Rivers state and Transportation Minister for eight years, Rotimi Amaechi who had a delayed local flight and had to wait at the departure lounge of the airport just like any other ordinary citizen.
No retinue of security men, no special treatment from the airport staffs and I see that once you’re out of power, all you will be left with is yourself and your records.
I have said it once. The elites of both Ibadan and Oyo have overindulged Governor Makinde.
As our elders used to say, it is unwise to leave the insane man with the corpse of his mother.
The elites in both ancient Towns have a responsibility to protect their heritage from the forays of an overambitious politician.
If an ugly precedent is allowed to be set today, it will come to haunt everyone, even generations yet unborn.
It is a duty bestowed on the elites of both Ibadan and Oyo to defend their heritage from threats and the earlier they rise to the occassion, the better for all of us.
SOLA ABEGUNDE.
