Olubadan, Ajimobi’s Widow Deny Plot To Impeach Makinde
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and the widow of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Florence, have denied purportedly inducing members of the state House of Assembly, through its Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, to begin an impeachment process against Governor Seyi Makinde.
Ogundoyin became the centre of the alleged plot on Tuesday morning after members of the state House of Assembly issued individual statements to absolve themselves of any knowledge of discussions between the Speaker and both the Olubadan and Ajimobi’s wife.
In his viral statement, the Chief Whip of the state assembly, Gbenga Oyekola, had revealed that Ogundoyin was invited by the Olubadan and Mrs Ajimobi.
The statement quoted the Olubadan as advising the Speaker on his governorship ambition and offering to secure a House of Representatives ticket for him under the APC “along with the necessary funds to prosecute the election.”
The Speaker was reported to have declined the offer.
Ogundoyin was also said to have been invited by the former governor’s wife on the same subject matter.
“He said he was offered money but declined and did not collect anything from them,” Oyekola’s statement read.
The chief whip claimed that the invitations were aimed at disrupting the peace in the state and creating division within the state House of Assembly to pave the way for the alleged impeachment of Makinde.
“I was never invited, never consulted, and was not part of any such meetings or arrangements. I cannot and will not be disloyal to my boss, Governor Seyi Makinde,” Oyekola stated.
Like Oyekola, many other lawmakers of the state assembly followed suit, declaring their unwavering loyalty and support for Makinde while dissociating themselves from alleged plans to remove the governor.
In his reaction, the Olubadan, through his media aide, Adeola Oloko, warned against dragging the throne into dirty politics.
The statement refuted the claim that the monarch was planning to unseat Makinde.
It read, “To say the least, this is a lie. You don’t have to be a former governor or distinguished senator to know that a monarch has no power to impeach a local government chairman, let alone a state governor.
“This becomes intriguing when, less than 24 hours earlier, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose alleged the state governor’s purported plot to remove the Olubadan.
“Today, it is the Olubadan who allegedly wants to impeach the governor. So, who is fooling whom? Don’t drag the Olubadan throne into dirty politics.”
On her part, Mrs Ajimobi denied alleged financial inducements aimed at influencing members of the state assembly to impeach Makinde.
Speaking through her media office, Ajimobi described the claims as “entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate act of disinformation” intended to tarnish her image, de-market her and mislead the public.
The statement read, “At no time did Ajimobi convene, attend or participate in any such meeting with any individual or group for the purpose of discussing impeachment or destabilising the state government.”
She said the attempt to link her name to the allegations was “malicious political propaganda aimed at bringing her into disrepute, particularly among the people of the state and beyond.”
The statement further read, “Activities of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo are of no concern to me. Linking me to such a plot could only be borne out of mischief and deliberate reverse propaganda to malign my reputation.”
Ogundoyin, the man in the eye of the storm, also denied allegations that he received money from All Progressives Congress proxies in the state to facilitate the impeachment of Makinde, describing the claim as false and politically motivated.
