Dirty Mapo Hall Sparks Outrage From Stakeholders, Demand Action From Oyo Govt Before Olubadan Coronation
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN – THE Less than 48 Hours to the coronation of former governor of Oyo State, Sen. Oba. Rasidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, some stakeholders has fumed over untidy nature of the historic Mapo Hall and its environment, venue for Friday’s coronation of new Olubadan of Ibadanland.
They said an environment that will play host to Nigeria’s President, governors across the nation and eminent personalities should not be dirty like that.
According to them, cleaning of Mapo Hall which should be the responsibility of the state Ministry of Environment has been abandoned without giving required attention.
The Ibadan people have however said they are ready to do the cleaning and painting, describing the current condition of Mapo Hall if not attended to before the coronation as a slap to the Olubadan himself and people of Ibadanland.
When contacted, the various traditional leaders including prominent Mogajis and Baales in Ibadanland, they all agreed that “Mapo Hall and it’s environ is very dirty, and it is the responsibility of Ministry of Environment to clean it up ahead of the coronation.
“As a town that wanted to host the President of the country, governors and eminent personalities in Nigeria, this will be a slap on the Institution of Olubadan and the people of Ibadanland.
“Now that we see that the Ministry of environment has refused to tidy up Mapo and it’s environs in less than 48hrs to the coronation, Ibadan people have now decided to do the cleaning themself.
“We don’t want to assume that because the Commissioner for the environment is from Oyo town, may be that is why he refused to do the needful.
“But we will not allow the State Government, new Olubadan and Ibadan people to be embarrassed.”