- The Seyi Makinde and the palace of the Rashidi Ladoja dismissed allegations made by Ayodele Fayose that a plot existed to dethrone the Olubadan of Ibadanland
- Fayose had claimed on social media that the Oyo State Government planned to issue a query to the monarch, but officials including Commissioner Dotun Oyelade described the allegation as false, politically motivated, and without evidence
- Both the state government and the Olubadan’s representatives maintained that there was no dispute or disciplinary action being considered, stressing that relations between the institutions remained cordial
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, have both dismissed claims made by former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, alleging a plot to dethrone the Ibadan traditional ruler.
Fayose had earlier taken to his X (formerly Twitter) account to allege that Governor Makinde was planning to remove the Olubadan from office. He further claimed that the purported move would begin with a government query to be issued against the monarch, allegedly linked to his absence at a recent coronation event involving high chiefs in Ibadanland.
In the post, Fayose suggested that tensions existed between the state government and the traditional institution, warning that steps were being taken to undermine the position of the Olubadan. His claims quickly generated public reactions across political and traditional circles in Oyo State.
However, both the state government and the Olubadan-in-Council have strongly denied the allegation, describing it as false, misleading, and without foundation.
Speaking through his media aides, Governor Makinde rejected the claim outright, insisting that his administration had neither contemplated nor discussed any action aimed at removing or undermining the Olubadan. According to him, the report does not reflect the reality of the relationship between the state government and the traditional institution.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, also responded sharply to the allegation, stating that the Oyo State Government had no intention of issuing any query or taking disciplinary steps against the monarch. He described the claims as politically motivated and intended to mislead the public.
Oyelade further argued that government actions are always guided by due process and clear justification, adding that the allegations lacked any credible basis. He dismissed the report as “desperate politics” aimed at creating unnecessary tension between key institutions in the state.
Similarly, the media aide to the Olubadan, Adeola Oloko, also refuted Fayose’s statement, describing it as unfounded. He maintained that there was no known conflict between Governor Makinde and the traditional ruler that could justify such a claim.
Oloko added that the relationship between the government and the Olubadan remains cordial, stressing that neither the palace nor the state government had indicated any form of disagreement capable of escalating into a leadership crisis within Ibadanland.
Observers note that the controversy has sparked renewed debate over the spread of unverified political claims on social media, particularly those involving sensitive traditional institutions. Some residents and political commentators have urged public figures to exercise caution when making statements that could inflame tensions.
As of now, both the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan’s palace maintain that there is no ongoing dispute or planned action against the monarch, effectively dismissing Fayose’s allegation as baseless.