The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II has reacted to a viral video purportedly done by the Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho.
Chief Sunday Igboho in the trending video condemned Saturday’s conferment of Chieftaincy titles on both the Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and wife Prof. Hafsat.
Chief Igboho was also seen advising the monarch not to join the Yoruba Obas conferring Chieftaincy titles on people that do no merit them.
Reacting on behalf of Olubadan to Igboho’s claim, the palace spokesperson, Oladele Ogunsola in a statement said though, there’s no particular mention of either the name or title of Olubadan in the said video, the fact that the Saturday occasion was being referenced was not hidden.
Ogunsola noted that “as much as the Yoruba Nation activist is entitled to his opinion as well as conviction on the Yoruba Nation project, he must concede to the fact that others too have the right to do certain things that in their wisdom are considered helpful to Yoruba cause.”
The statement reads in part:
“It must be placed on record that the present Olubadan is too refined to be seeking for who to honour with Chieftaincy title for whatever purpose. But, when a case was made for the Kano State first couple by the Yoruba community in the ancient Kano city through their head, Alhaji Muritala Alimi Otisese and the adduced reasons were considered on their merit, Kabiyesi gave his consent.
“Even, as claimed in the video by Igboho that the Yoruba Nation project remains on course, do we close our eyes to whatever may be the interest of our kith and kin in other parts of the country? Here is a man (Governor Ganduje) said to have been compassionate to the Yoruba people in his domain. Presently, Dr. Ganduje is undertaking an auditorium project at the Premier University, the University of Ibadan where he bagged his doctorate degree.
“As Kabiyesi noted at the installation ceremony on Saturday, the Kano State helmsman has proved himself a peace loving person with the manner he flew down to douse tension at Sasa Market, here in Ibadan about two years ago when crisis broke out at the market between Hausa traders and Sasa natives. We must not forget also that the Gandujes are Ibadan in-laws.
“It is advisable that Igboho asks questions before forming an opinion on anything that has to do with Yoruba to avoid hasty conclusion” the statement added.
