Makinde gets knocks for failed coronation
Save Oyo Movement has decried Friday’s failed coronation of high chiefs in Ibadan, on which over N1.5 billion was allegedly spent. Makinde upgraded three high chiefs in Ibadan to obas
- By Our Reporters
Save Oyo Movement has decried Friday’s failed coronation of high chiefs in Ibadan, on which over N1.5 billion was allegedly spent.
Makinde upgraded three high chiefs in Ibadan to obas in their absence. The three, Akeem Adewoyin, Kola Babalola and, Sharafadeen Alli, declined invitation to the ceremony.
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Rising from its meeting in Ibadan, the group, in a statement by Coordinator, Akeem Oladiti, wondered when in Yorubaland, a governor started coronating obas in absentia, such that billions of state funds are spent to coronate empty chairs as done by Makinde.
It accused Makinde of using the coronation to target Senator Alli, who is touted as APC governorship candidate in Oyo State.
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The group, however, believed that being a traditional ruler should not prevent anyone from aspiring into public office.
It alleged that one of the three high chiefs that the governor coronated in absentia had been due for coronation since 2024, and had written to the governor many times. He even raised it when he met the governor.
‘‘Yet, the governor refused to crown him, but when he (Makinde) saw that Senator Sharafadeen Alli was going to be the APC governorship candidate, the governor suddenly developed interest in the coronation, simply because he opined that it will stop his (Sharafadeen Alli) governorship aspiration.’’
But, it said, ‘‘on this one, whether or not Alli is crowned a king or not, it will not change the fact that being a traditional is not one of the grounds for disqualifying anyone from contesting for public office.’’
