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Beaded crown: Makinde, Ibadan elders visit Ladoja

Published

1 month ago

August 9, 2024

Admin

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday evening, visited the former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, at his Ondo Street private residence in the Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state.

The visit, seen by many as reconciliatory, came after Ladoja, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, agreed to wear the ceremonial beaded crown as Ibadan oba.

Some prominent Ibadan indigenes, led by the Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Amao, alongside the President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Niyi Ajewole and other executive members also visited Ladoja at his residence on Thursday.

Others who visited were the Are Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Daud Akinola; the Babaloja of Oyo State, Yekini Abass; the compound heads, popularly called Mogajis, led by their President, Chief Asimiyu Ariori; Chairperson of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Dotun Olaitan, and a host of others.

Makinde and Ladoja enjoyed a smooth relationship in the past, culminating in their opposition to the beaded crown when it was first introduced by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration.

Riding on the wave of the ill-treatment meted to the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by the Ajimobi administration, Makinde, backed by Ladoja in 2019, defeated the then-governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress backed by Ajimobi, Chief Bayo Adelabu.

Before the late Oba Lekan Balogun could get approval to become the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Makinde forced all the Obas crowned by Ajimobi to drop their crowns and reversed to high chiefs as previously recognised.

The relationship between Makinde and Ladoja became frosty in the build-up to the 2023 election, as the governor approved the wearing of beaded crowns by the high chiefs, against the stand of Ladoja.

On Sunday, Ladoja, at a live programme on Fresh FM 105.9 in Ibadan, the state capital, made a U-turn and publicly announced that he would accept the ceremonial crown.

He, however, said his decision to accept the crown did not make him an oba, as the Olubadan of Ibadanland remained the only recognised monarch in Ibadan.

He said the gazette unveiled during the coronation ceremony for Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the Olubadan of Ibadanland was to make him become an Olubadan.

Makinde, who had since Monday, August 5, 2024, embarked on an annual leave, transmitted power to the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, in a letter sent to the state House of Assembly.

Sources privy to Wednesday’s meeting confided in our correspondent on Thursday that, “Governor Makinde arrived at Ondo Street around 6:00 pm yesterday (Wednesday). They held a closed-door meeting and they both came outside and discussed for a few minutes before the governor took his leave.

“They discussed at length, especially about the progress of Ibadanland in particular and the state in general. They also discussed the ceremonial beaded crown.”

Another source said, “We were excited to receive him (Makinde) yesterday. The governor and Otun Olubadan are on good terms. Forget about what people are saying. The visit was like a son coming to greet his father.”

A source told our correspondent that Amao, who spoke on behalf of others during the visit, thanked Ladoja for accepting the crown and for the way and manner he handled the radio interview on Sunday.

Amao was quoted to have said, “Some of us were disturbed and not happy because Ladoja rejected the crown initially. With his decision to accept it now, he (Ladoja) deserves to be commended.”

Another source privy to the meeting said, “The visitors all praised him. They congratulated him on the bold step. They said his decision not to accept the crown may destroy Ibadanland and for accepting it, they showered encomium on him. Ladoja was full of joy.”

Responding, Ladoja was said to have appreciated them for the visit and assured them that he would continue to contribute his quota to the growth and development of the town in particular and the state in general.

When contacted, one of Ladoja’s aides, Adeola Oloko, confirmed the visit and declined further comment.

“Yes, they were all here this evening. The delegation was led by the Asiwaju of Ibadanland, Bode Amao,” he said.

It was further gathered that plans were already concluded for Ladoja to wear the crown.

The presentation of the beaded crown, which ought to have taken place this week, was said to have been postponed till next week, after the meeting of Olubadan-In-Council at the ultramodern palace at Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

News

Rupture In PDP Governors’ Forum deepens

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Austin Ojomah

By Ojomah Austin.

The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.

After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.

Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.

Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.

The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.

While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.

News

Tears As Man Takes Own Life Over Tinubu’s Govt Hardship

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.

According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.

Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.

“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

News

Just in: Dangote Petrol Now Available at N765.99 Per Litre

Published

1 hour ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.

Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.

“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.

It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.

He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.

Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.

See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.

“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.

“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”