Barely 48 hours to Saturday’s governorship election, the Olubadan-in-Council, on Thursday, declared that it has no anointed candidate among the array of candidates vying for the exalted position in Oyo State.
Some online media earlier reported that the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde, who is aiming for another term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, received the traditional institution’s endorsement.
But debunking the claim, the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade, in a statement, said there was nothing like that.
He said, “The governor actually invited us to a meeting in his Ikolaba residence which we attended as traditional heads.
“At the meeting, he told us that he would be contesting on Saturday and sought our support and prayer. There and then we told him that God would grant him his heart desires. We did not do or say any other thing than offering him prayers which we are expected to do as elders and the custodians of our tradition and culture.
“I blame the media for their wrong interpretation and a misplaced one for that matter because, by our positions, we are fathers of all and we are not expected to have a favourite among our various children contesting for the same position. If you look at the gubernatorial candidates in the race in the state, I don’t think we would have less than 98 per cent of them as sons of Ibadanland. So, what kind of a father would choose just one and neglect others?
“What’s more? Our revered father, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who heads the council said to have endorsed the governor, was not even in the know of the meeting talk less of being a part of it. So, how would the head of a council be absent at a meeting where such a vital pronouncement would be made?”
Ajibade stressed that, “We have no anointed candidate among the gubernatorial candidates contesting for the seat in the state come this Saturday.”
