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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, has slammed the embattled self-determination activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, over his comments on the chieftaincy title awarded to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The governor and and his wife were last weekend installed as the Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland respectively.
Igboho had in a video to congratulate Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, on his birthday, condemned the Olubadan for conferring the chieftaincy on Ganduje and his wife, Prof. Hafsat Ganduje.
In the video,, Igboho enjoined the monarch not to join Obas that gives titles to undeserving people.
Reacting to Igboho’s comment, Olubadan’s spokesperson, Oladele Ogunsola, in a statement , said while the activist has a right of opinion, he must understand that others too have the right to do certain things.
He added that the Olubadan is too refined to be seeking who to honour with chieftaincy title.
Ogunsola explained that when a case was made for the Kano State first couple by the Yoruba community, through their head, Alhaji Muritala Alimi Otisese, the Olubadan 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?” Ogunsola said
He said Ganduje was credited for being compassionate to the Yoruba people in his domain.
“Presently, Dr. Ganduje is undertaking an auditorium project at the University of Ibadan where he bagged his doctorate degree,” the spokesperson said.
Ogunsola recalled how Ganduje flew down to douse tension at Sasa Market in Ibadan two years ago when a crisis broke out at the market between Hausa traders and natives.
The statement further reminded the public that the Gandujes are Ibadan 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 hasty conclusion.
“The fact that some people from the northern part of the country have taken to crimes and criminality does not mean that all northerners are criminals.
“If and when the Yoruba nation project comes to be, are we saying there won’t be interaction between the Yoruba people and others in the country again?” he concluded.