The much publicised endorsement of governor Seyi Makinde’s second term ambition by some Ibadan family heads (Mogajis) has created a dispute among the chiefs.
A few days back, a section of the Mogajis, headed by Engr. Abduljelil Adekunle Kariheem, Mogaji Adanla, said it has unanimously agreed to support Engr. Seyi Makinde to realize his second term dream in the coming March 11 gubernatorial election. Makinde, the incumbent governor of Oyo State, is seeking re-election under his party, PDP.
The Adanla group, rising from a meeting in Ibadan, stated that their decision was based on Makinde’s many achievements in the last three and half years that he has been steering affairs of the state. The group didn’t only endorse Makinde, but also urged the other two major contenders in the race, Senator Teslim Folarin (APC) and Chief Bayo Adelabu (Accord) to be patient for Makinde to complete his second term in 2027.
Mogaji Adanla, who is the Coordinator and Spokesperson of the group, noted that Makinde has performed creditably well in the last three and half years with various physical urbanisation and infrastructural development of Ibadanland, urging other candidates in the guber race to allow Makinde complete all developmental projects spread across different parts of the state. He said: “We are here because we want to declare our endorsement of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde who has performed excellently and creditably well for the whole world to see.
“We have even notified Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu about our position that Ibadan and indeed Oyo State is for ‘Seyi Makinde. In a rather interesting development, however, another set of Mogajis, last week, came out and distanced themselves from the said endorsement.
This set of Mogajis said though they have nothing against Makinde’s re-election bid but they never at any point in time endorsed any governorship candidate. Saying those who claimed to have endorsed the Governor are politicians who called themselves Mogajis. They also made it clear the fact that, all candidates including those who are not Ibadan indigenes only seek their blessing not endorsement.
Speaking in Ibadan on behalf of the Mogajis after their meeting at Yemetu Aladorin, Mogaji Muktar Adewale Gbadeyanka noted that the purported endorsement was not the decision of all Mogajis in Ibadanland. That those who carried out the endorsement did so on their own. According to him, Makinde and other governorship candidates are friends of Ibadan and Oyo State.
He said: “What prompted this gathering is because we Ibadan Mogajis have not anointed any candidate. The reason is because we Ibadan Mogajis are not politicians. All candidates have been coming to us to seek blessing, including those candidates who are not indigenes of Ibadanland. “The purported endorsement hold no water because every town have its rules and regulations. Ibadanland has culture and rules, Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council don’t endorse but only bless candidates which affect them positively, that is why we the Mogaji’s cannot also endorse any candidate.”
This back and forth arguments between the Ibadan Mogajis has caused a kind debate not only in the traditional circle but also within the political circle as to whether it is morally right or wrong for Ibadan Mogajis to endorse candidates. Whether it is right or wrong for them to be partisan. While some see nothing wrong in the endorsement by the Mogajis, others have come seriously against it. According to a very prominent Ibadan chief who doesn’t want his name in the print, there is no rule stopping Mogajis from endorsing whoever they feel is the best.
He said: “I don’t think politics is part of what they are prohibited to do as Mogajis. The incumbent Olubadan was a guber aspirant in the second republic. He was a Senator in the third or fourth republic. What they are prohibited from doing is forcefully taking peoples land and some other vices.”
However, another Chief, a Mogaji, who spoke with this reporter under anonymity and who doesn’t want to get involved in the controversy lampooned the Mogajis involved in the endorsement saga. He described them as opportunists pursing their own interests and their pockets.
-Dare Adeniran
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