Olubadan-in-Council has declared it has no anointed candidate among the candidates jostling for the Oyo State Government House in Saturday’s governorship election.
The position was made known barely 48 hours to the governorship election in the state, to debunk some online reports that the Council had endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde’s second term ambition.
The position of the highest Ibadan traditional system was contained in a statement by, Oladele Ogunsola, the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan of Ibadan.
The statement declared as falsehood the online media report Governor Makinde, who is contesting on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had received the endorsement of the traditional heads.
Speaking for the Olubadan-in-Council, the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade, said there was nothing like endorsement of Makinde.
He said the earlier report was nothing but the wish of the writer and promoter and which remains at variance with their exalted positions as fathers of all, as represented by the Council.
“The governor actually invited us to a meeting in his Ikolaba residence which we attended as traditional heads.
“At the meeting, he told us that he would be contesting on Saturday and sought for our support and prayer. There and then we told him that God would grant him his heart desires.
“We, in the Council, did not do or say any other thing than offering him prayers which we are expected to do as elders and the custodians of our tradition and culture.
“I blame the media for their wrong interpretation and a misplaced one for that matter because, by our positions, we are fathers of all and we are not expected to have favourite among our various children contesting for the same position.
“If you look at the gubernatorial candidates in the race in the state, I don’t think we would have less than 98 per cent of them as sons of Ibadanland.
“So, what kind of a father would choose just one and neglect others?,” the Ekerin Olubadan asked.
He further said: “What’s more? Our revered father, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who heads the Council said to have endorsed the governor, was not even in the know of the meeting talk less of being part of it.
“So, how would the head of a Council be absent at a meeting where such a vital pronouncement would be made?
“The general public is, by this reaction, being informed to discountenance the earlier report as nothing but the inner wish of the writer and promoter and which remains at variance with our exalted positions as fathers of all.
“The Council have no anointed candidate among the gubernatorial candidates contesting for the seat in Oyo State, come Saturday this week.”
