Following the official installation and presentation of staff of office to 10 of the 11 elevated Ibadan Obas, Oyo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lauded the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for ensuring that what was worth doing was done well in adherence with due process.
While praising the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun for enhancing and enriching the Ibadan traditional institution over the request that birthed the elevation of the monarchs and subsequently installing them in an epochal event, the ruling PDP rallied more support and cooperation for the Olubadan-in Council as well as His Imperial Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun.
A statement by the party’s state chairman, Honourable Dayo Ogungbenro and made available to journalists on Saturday morning by the state publicity secretary, Akeem Olatunji described the development as an important move that was long overdue.
Describing Makinde as a core democrat, nationalist, and a futuristic leader, the ruling PDP commended the governor for being a true son of the soil by not allowing himself distracted by the naysayers whose only job in the entire polity according to the party was to pose as a clog in the wheel of progress.
The party stressed that there was no basis for comparing what Makinde has done with what was previously done in term of the elevation of the new monarchs while drawing inference from the Holy Bible saying when the righteous rules, the people rejoice and not vice versa.
Oyo state PDP stated that, while what was previously done under the then administration was politically motivated in a needless face-off between the then governor and Olubadan of Ibadanland, what Makinde has done was to humbly honour and grant the request of the Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun to have the Ibadan High Chiefs elevated to the rank of Obas.
The party maintained that, while the elevation of the new monarchs has further enriched the Ibadan traditional institution especially the Olubadan-in Council, the order of ascendancy to the highly coveted throne remained preserved and unaltered as the naysayers may want unsuspecting members of the public to believe.
The PDP statement partly reads: “We want to specially thank His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde for his unfettered diligence and approach to governance. There’s no gainsaying that his style has continued to endear him to even pessimists and naysayers who were all out to fault his every move and action particularly on the Oyo state chieftaincy matters and newly elevated Ibadan monarchs.
“We want to commend our father, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Mahood Lekan Balogun for his exemplary leadership and courage to make an indelible mark in the sands of time with his request which not only enriched the Ibadan traditional institution but has also enhanced it’s age-long heritage.
“It is also very commendable that both Governor Seyi Makinde and the Olubadan alongside the Olubadan-in Council have remained on the same page for the continued development of Ibadanland without any untoward issues regarding the traditional institution as we previously had it then.
“We therefore, solicit more support and cooperation for our baba’, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and our Governor in order to be able to achieve more together in the impressive father-son relationship that has seen great manifestation of development in our dear state.”