Makinde: We’ve Put OurTraditional System Back on Track

The Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, yesterday, said his administration has been able to put Ibadan’s traditional system back on track.

The governor spoke at the Church Service marking the beginning of the 2022 Ibadan Cultural Festival Week’ held at the St. Peters Anglican Church, Aremo, Ibadan, said if his administration did not resolve the crisis surrounding the stool, Ibadan would have continued to experience the same challenges each time a new Olubadan was to be installed.

Makinde was  quoted  in statement as saying: “We have come here today to give thanks to the King of kings. No matter how much we try as mortals, nothing we try to achieve will succeed without God. 

“Yes, it took us some time to install the new Olubadan of Ibadanland. If not for the challenges we faced, the Ibadan traditional system is such that the process of installation would take only one or two weeks. And when we critically looked into those challenges, we discovered that if we did not resolve them  just as we have done, we will continue to experience the same challenges every time we have to install Olubadan. So, with your support, we have been able to put Ibadan’s traditional system back on track.”

According to the governor, he promised members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), when they came to him, that the 2022 Ibadan Cultural Festival Week, would be celebrated with the new Olubadan on the throne.

“When CCII came to meet me, they were concerned. In fact, they had already fixed the date for Ibadan Week but I asked them to shift it by one week and I promised that we would install the new Olubadan around that week. 

And to the glory of God, the ongoing Ibadan Week is being observed with the new Olubadan on the throne,” the governor added.

While urging the people to participate in election processes by voting wisely, he added that votes would count with the new law in place, even as he called on clerics and residents of the state to continue to pray for his administration.

He stated: “Let me also use this opportunity to inform those, who have been praying for our administration not to relent. INEC timetable is out and it is about time we took the decision on the direction, where we want Oyo State and Nigeria to face for the next four years.

“I want to urge us to take our stand and not think our votes would not count this time round. What I know is, there will be changes. Gone are the days that some people will falsify election results at collation centres. So, be vigilant and participate in the electoral process, because if you don’t participate, you won’t be bold to ask how the processes have gone.”

In his speech, the CCII president, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, appreciated Makinde for the way he settled the issues surrounding the Olubadan stool, saying Ibadan would never forget his administration.

Adeaga added that the purpose of the thanksgiving was to show appreciation to God for making the installation of the new Olubadan a successful one and the fact that despite all hurdles, Ibadan has continued to remain peaceful.

He called on all and sundry to continue to support the CCII and Ibadanland at large.