A group known as Authentic Ibadan Mogajis on Monday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, to withdraw the statement he allegedly made about one of the wives of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Spokesman for the group, Chief Olawale Oladoja, who is the Mogaji of Akinsola compound in the Oopo Labiran area of Ibadan, said at the end of its meeting that the governor’s statement was a sign of disrespect to the Olubadan throne and the Ibadan people.
Ajimobi, who recently crowned 21 new obas in Ibadan to the displeasure of Oba Adetunji, had reportedly said in a broadcast that he used to send the present Olubadan’s wife to his (governor’s) girlfriend.
“We wish to respond to the governor’s broadcast over the Olubadan issue and coronation of some chiefs. We are a law-abiding people and we have gone to court over the issue. We are sure that they have the Ministry of Justice in the state government who interprets the law for the executive.
“The governor said in the broadcast that he used to send the present Olubadan’s wife to his (governor) girlfriend. That is an insult on the Olubadan throne and Ibadan people even when the event dated back many years. The woman in question is now an Olori. We are giving him (governor) a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the statement.
“He has about 19 months more to spend as governor of the state after which he will become a former governor. He should realise that whatever we do today will become history tomorrow. If during your tenure you destabilise the Ibadan custom despite being our brother, you will come back to meet it that way.
“We expect the state governor to know more on this issue and we also want the people to be aware that what we are fighting for concerns the traditional institution and progress of Ibadan land. We cannot be intimidated by anyone on this issue.
“We have nothing against the personality of Ajimobi as an Ibadan son, but we will never fold our arms and allow an individual or government to rubbish the custom of Ibadan land,” Oladoja said.
Contacted, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the Governor, Yomi Layinka, told Punch the government would not comment on such issues.
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, similarly said the matters raised by the mogajis were non-issues.
“These are non-issues. No serious government responds to such. The key question is whether the governor stated facts during his live interview or not.
“The key dramatis personae in reference is alive and has not debunked the private relationship described by the governor. Moreover, it was stated in deference to the new status by marriage, which the governor said deserved respect. The governor has stated facts in both instances,” Arulogun said.
