By Ola Ajayi & Adeola Badru
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has described the comment he made about Governor Abiola Ajimobi having a third term as mere sarcasm and a remark that was “pregnant with meaning.”
Olubadan The monarch, who instituted a suit against the governor over the controversial review of 1959 Olubadan chieftaincy declaration, said the people actually misunderstood his comments because they could not read in between the lines.
Oba Adetunji said this while receiving hundreds of Ibadan indigenes who came to pay him homage at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace as part of the on-going Ibadan week. The monarch noted that what appears simple and straight forward, could sometimes be pregnant with meanings adding that only the discerning minds could understand “complexity in simplicity.”
Setting the records straight, he said: “As a monarch, I have no power over the election and re-election of anybody, let alone tenure extension that is unconstitutional. Besides, when I was exchanging banters with the Governor, I was only cracking a joke with him as a son and subject.
“Even, if Ajimobi offended us, it would be indecorous on my part to address him harshly. Besides, there is a subsisting judgement over the controversial chieftaincy review which awaits compliance. About four or five suits relating to the matter are still in court and have not been withdrawn,” he said.
On the rumour being peddled that he received gratification from Governor Abiola Ajimobi or his proxies for cracking the third term joke, he challenged them to come up with “demonstrable evidence” to back up their claims.
Earlier, the first Vice President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, CCII, Dr. Lasisi Balogun who stood in for the President-General, Chief Yemi Soladoye had congratulated the monarch on his second coronation anniversary.
Vanguard
