Mogaji Abass Oloko, has pushed back against comments made by the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Barrister Ajeniyi Ajewole over comments about where Makinde’s likely successor could emerge from.
Oloko warned that such remarks could be read as a subtle attempt to sideline Ibadan ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
Oloko’s reaction followed a publication by westernmirror.com.ng after Ajewole’s appearance on the BCOS programme Guest of the Month, where the CCII President-General argued that Ibadan would not weaponise its population strength or insist on producing the next governor.
Ajewole had stressed that the city’s long-standing political character had always favoured competence over origin and that its numeric strength would not be monopolized against competent hands from other geopolitical zones.
He pointed to historical examples, noting how former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, a non-Ibadan candidate, once defeated leading Ibadan contenders, including the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
For Ajewole, who laid emphasis on competence and fair competition in his comments, the city has consistently voted on merit.
“For us in Ibadan, what has always counted is competence. If someone comes with capacity, campaigns here, and earns the trust of the people, we will support him. Origin has never been our yardstick,” Ajewole said on the programme.
However, Oloko, in a statement on Thursday, took issue with that position arguing that while presented as a call for fairness, it may unintentionally undermine Ibadan’s place in the coming political contest.
According to him, the tone of Ajewole’s submission “suggests that Ibadan people should deliberately step aside in an election where our sons and daughters are eminently qualified.”
He wondered why Ibadan should always be the one reminded to downplay its political weight despite its sizeable contribution to the state’s population and democratic process.
“With due respect to Chief Ajewole, his statement signals a gang-up against Ibadan. Why must Ibadan people be the ones consistently urged to sacrifice their political strength?
“We have prominent sons and daughters who are capable of becoming governor in 2027. Let other zones also fight for it,” he said.
Oloko added that Ibadan’s willingness to welcome all has never amounted to political surrender. The city, he said, should not be guilt-tripped into abandoning its legitimate aspirations.
“Ibadan has always been accommodating, but accommodation does not mean abdication. We will not allow anyone to push Ibadan into giving up what is rightfully within its reach,” he noted.
He listed political figures such as Oloye Teslim Folarin, Adebayo Adelabu, Oloye Taofeek Adegoke and Senator Abiodun Sarafadeen Alli as examples of capable individuals Ibadan can proudly present for 2027 governorship race.
“What Ibadan deserves in 2027 is fair competition, not pre-emptive surrender. Ibadan has produced leaders of capacity, and in 2027, we will not apologise for presenting competent aspirants,” he added.