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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, and Mrs Florence Ajimobi, wife of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi, have strongly denied claims that they influenced members of the Oyo State House of Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor Seyi Makinde.
The controversy emerged after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Adebo Ogundoyin, was linked to the alleged conspiracy, prompting several MPs to publicly disassociate themselves from the action.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Assembly, Gbenga Oyekola, claimed that the Speaker was invited separately by the Olubadan and Mrs Ajimobi to discuss politics. According to him, the king allegedly advised Ogundoyin on his ambition to become governor and offered support, including facilitating his nomination to the House of Representatives under the APC.
He also stated, “He said he was offered money but refused and did not collect anything from them.”
Oyekola further alleged that the invitation was part of an effort to destabilize the country and create divisions within the Assembly, potentially paving the way for impeachment moves. He distanced himself from the alleged plot, saying, “I was never invited, never consulted, and was not part of any such meeting or arrangement. I cannot and will not be disloyal to my boss, Governor Seyi Makinde.”
Other lawmakers also expressed similar opinions, reaffirming their loyalty to the governor and denying involvement in impeachment discussions.
Responding, Olubadan, through his media aide, Adeola Oloko, rejected the allegations and warned against politicizing traditional institutions.
The palace statement read, “To say the least, this is a lie. You don’t have to be a former governor or prominent senator to know that a monarch does not have the power to impeach a local government chairman, let alone a state governor.
“This became interesting when, less than 24 hours earlier, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose accused the state governor of plotting to remove Olubadan.
“Right now, it is Olubadan who allegedly wants to impeach the governor. So, who is fooling whom? Don’t drag Olubadan’s throne into dirty politics.”
Ajimobi also dismissed allegations that he offered financial inducements to lawmakers, describing the claims as “completely false, baseless and a deliberate act of disinformation.”
In a statement from his media office, he said, “Ajimobi has never held, attended or participated in any meeting with any individual or group with the aim of discussing impeachment or destabilizing the state government.”
He further described the allegations as “malicious political propaganda aimed at tarnishing his reputation, especially among the people of the state and beyond.”
The statement added, “The activities of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo are none of my business. Linking me to such plans can only be due to mischief and deliberate reverse propaganda to malign my reputation.”
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Amid the controversy, Ogundoyin himself denied receiving any inducements to facilitate the impeachment process, and insisted that the allegations were fabricated.
He said, “There was no exchange of money in any of the meetings. The rumors were created to tarnish my image and disturb the stability of the state government and legislature.
“I was given attractive offers and opportunities, but I turned them down without hesitation because nothing could shake my conscience or weaken my loyalty to the governor, the party and the people we were elected to serve.
“I remain fully committed to upholding the integrity of the DPR and will not be part of any agenda that aims to disrupt the stability of the government we have built.”
The Chairman reiterated his loyalty to the governor and the ruling PDP, adding that “no one will succeed in driving a wedge between him and the government or derail the collective mandate they have upheld.”
Clarifying his visit to Olubadan, Ogundoyin said the visit was “purely consultative and took place several weeks earlier,” and explained that he visited the king to seek blessings on his ambition to become governor in line with tradition.
Meanwhile, Shola Ladoja considered the matter, initially threatening to provide evidence if necessary.
He wrote, “I was the one who brought Debo Ogundoyin to Kabiyesi (my father) because he asked me to do it. Dear Chief Whip, you have just been used as a tool by a coward and a liar. I will issue a receipt if Debo does not do the right thing. All because of his selfish ambition to become governor.”
However, he later clarified his statement by saying, “My latest tweet was deleted because I realized many people thought I meant a payment receipt. No. What I meant was a receipt of our conversation.
“Debo, on March 25, begged me to take him to my father to support his ambition to become governor, but I was very hesitant to do so.
“Kabiyesi only advised him on how to conduct the screening and prayed for him. Whoever is spreading these rumors only wants to create a rift between Kabiyesi and His Majesty. Please do not involve us in this.”
In a separate reaction, the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress rejected allegations linking its members, including President Bola Tinubu, to the impeachment plot.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party described the claims as “a poorly written script aimed at diverting the attention of the general public and also attracting undue sympathy for the governor, who will soon retire from political office due to his own ego and naivety.”
The party added, “Governor Makinde should have been impeached long ago if members of the state House of Assembly were still discharging their responsibilities, considering the several cases of abuse of office recorded against him since May 2019.”
The statement further stated, “Governor Makinde has just decided to ask some of those who support him to implement a poorly written script aimed at getting him the attention of some gullible supporters, including those who have staked their political future in his hands, especially now that it is almost certain that he (Makinde) may not have a political party to sponsor any candidate in the 2027 general elections.
“Sadly, an informed source said that the impeachment news was sold to reduce the impact of the revelations made by the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, about plans to oust the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Ladoja (Arusa I), but the fact remains that no outside party is interested in the impeachment process against the governor which has reached a dead end.
“Meanwhile, no amount of blackmail or propaganda can save Governor Makinde from impeachment, because we believe that his false warning will be an eye-opener to the whole world that he has many weaknesses in his closet.”
