by Mercy Emmanuel
The Throne and the State: Fayose Reaffirms Allegations of Friction in Oyo
IBUJA — In the high-stakes theater of Oyo State politics, where traditional royalty and modern governance often collide, a new war of words has broken out. On Tuesday, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose doubled down on his claim that Governor Seyi Makinde is orchestrating a plan to remove the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
The allegation, delivered via Fayose’s official social media channels, paints a picture of a calculated political chess match. Fayose suggests that recent accusations of “partisanship” leveled against the monarch are not organic, but are instead “orchestrations” designed to justify a formal query—the first step in a potential deposition.
The situation has taken on a surreal quality, with both sides accusing the other of the same crime: destabilization. While Fayose claims the Governor wants the King removed, voices within the state government have recently hinted at a reverse plot—that the Olubadan is quietly encouraging an impeachment move against the Governor.
“They denied any rift… but now, they are accusing the Olubadan of plotting to impeach Governor Makinde,” Fayose remarked. “So, who is fooling whom?”
The Olubadan, a veteran of both royal and elective politics himself, has laughed off the idea that he could impeach a governor. Through his media aide, he reminded the public of a simple constitutional reality: a traditional ruler lacks the power to remove even a local government chairman, let alone the head of a state.
The tension has vibrated through the halls of the Oyo State House of Assembly. Gbenga Oyekola, the House Chief Whip, took the unusual step of issuing a public manifesto of loyalty to Governor Makinde this Tuesday, distancing himself from any whispers of a coup within the legislature.
Oyekola’s statement was a firm rejection of rumors that lawmakers were being courted to move against the Governor.
The lawmaker emphasized that he was never “invited or consulted” regarding any meetings to disrupt the state’s peace.
The Oyo State Government has met Fayose’s allegations with a mixture of frustration and dismissiveness. Commissioner for Information Dotun Oyelade described the claims as “thoughtless propaganda” and insisted the administration has never even discussed such a move.
“There has to be a credible motive for every government action,” Oyelade stated, suggesting that the rumors belong in the “refuse dump” of desperate politics.
Despite the denials from the palace and the Governor’s office, Fayose urged Nigerians to “keep their fingers crossed.” He pointed to the monarch’s recent absence at certain state-organized coronations as the likely “evidence” the government might use to justify a query.
As the dust settles on this latest round of allegations, the relationship between the Secretariat and the Palace remains under a microscope. In Ibadan, where the traditional stool is a symbol of deep-rooted community identity, any move against the Olubadan would be more than a political maneuver—it would be a cultural earthquake.
