The Olubadan of Ibadan Oba Olalekan Balogun, has slammed the leader of the Yoruba Nation Now movement, Sunday Adeyemo (also called Sunday Igboho) over his rejection and public condemnation of the honourary Chieftaincy title conferred on the Governor of Kano State Umar Abdulah Ganduje.
The Olubadan had on Saturday honoured the Governor with the title Aare Fiwagboye and his wife Yeye Aare Fiwagboye of Ibadan.
A statement by the monarch by his media aide, Oladele Ogunshola advised Igboho to always seek information on issues before making comments.
The statement from the palace reads: “The attention of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has been drawn to the trending video of the Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho condemning his Saturday’s conferment of chieftaincy titles on both the Governor of Kano State and his wife, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Prof. Hafsat Umar Ganduje respectively.
“In the said video, Igboho was seen advising Oba Francis, Olugbon of Orilẹ Igbọn not to join the Yoruba Obas conferring Chieftaincy titles on people that do no merit them and that Olugbon should advise his colleague Obas to desist from such.
“Although, there’s no particular mention of either the name or title of Olubadan in the said video, the fact that the Saturday occasion was being referenced was not hidden.
“As much as the Yoruba Nation activist is entitled to his opinion as well as a conviction on the Yoruba Nation project, he must concede to the fact that others too have the right to do certain things that in their wisdom are considered helpful to Yoruba cause.
“It must be placed on record that the present Olubadan is too refined to be seeking for who to honour with chieftaincy title for whatever purpose. But, when a case was made for the Kano State first couple by the Yoruba community in the ancient Kano city through their head, Alhaji Muritala Alimi Otisese and the adduced reasons were considered on their merit, Kabiyesi gave his consent.
“Even, as claimed in the video by Igboho that the Yoruba Nation project remains on course, do we close our eyes to whatever may be the interest of our kith and kin in other parts of the country?
“Here is a man (Governor Ganduje) said to have been compassionate to the Yoruba people in his domain. Presently, Dr Ganduje is undertaking an auditorium project at the Premier University, the University of Ibadan where he bagged his doctorate degree.
“As Kabiyesi noted at the installation ceremony on Saturday, the Kano State helmsman has proved himself as a peace-loving person with the manner he flew down to douse tension at Sasa Market, here in Ibadan about two years ago when the crisis broke out at the market between Hausa traders and Sasa natives. We must not forget also that the Gandujes are Ibadan’s in-laws.
“It is advisable that Igboho asks questions before forming an opinion on anything that has to do with Yoruba as a nation, to avoid the hasty conclusion.
“The fact that some people from the northern part of the country have taken to crimes and criminality doesn’t mean all northerners are criminals. What’s even more, if and when the Yoruba Nation project comes to be, are we saying there won’t be an interaction between the Yoruba people and others in the country again? I doubt it so much”, the statement added.