Olubadan Reveals Position on Oyo Governorship Race

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, has said he has no preferred candidate in the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.

According to him, all those seeking to become governor are his children.

Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State, made the position known on Monday when he received the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Hazeem Gbolarumi, at his palace in Ibadan.

Gbolarumi, who is a former deputy governor of the state, was accompanied by the PDP state chairman, Prof. Abdulrahman Akinoso, the state secretary, Dr Biola Olanipekun, and other party leaders.

The PDP candidate said the visit was to seek the monarch’s royal blessing and support ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I am here to seek the royal blessing from the Olubadan. No one has come here. I am the first person to come here,” Gbolarumi said.

He recalled Ladoja’s role in the development of the PDP in Oyo State, saying the former governor helped establish the party in the state before ascending the throne of the Olubadan.

“I came here to seek your blessing so as to bless us. It is your work, sir. I must say that before Kabiyesi ascended the throne, he was the one who brought PDP to Oyo State in 1998,” he said.

Akinoso explained that the delegation decided to visit the traditional ruler before beginning its campaign activities in the state.

“We are members of PDP in Oyo State. We have the PDP executive members and our candidates across the state here. Some could not make it to the palace today,” he said.

“We said that it is necessary for us to seek the support of the royal father before we start our campaigns. That is why we are here.”

Responding to the delegation, Ladoja made it clear that he would not endorse any of the governorship contenders as his personal choice.

The monarch said the candidates were all connected to the traditional institution and urged them to conduct their campaigns peacefully as the 2027 election approaches.

“I greet you all. I want you to know that all the candidates are from the same house. I have no anointed candidate. All of you are from the same house. All the gubernatorial candidates are from my house. You are children of the Olubadan,” Ladoja said.

He urged the candidates to leave the outcome of the election to God and avoid actions that could create tension or violence across the state.

“I pray that God will answer your prayers. It is God that giveth power. He makes whoever He wants to make. God, and start your campaigns peacefully,” he said.

Ladoja further warned the candidates and their supporters against violence, reminding them that political opponents could later become allies.

“Do not engage in violence. Your enemy today can be your best friend tomorrow. My prayers are that all of you will succeed in your endeavours,” the Olubadan said.

Ladoja had also recently made comments on national politics, including his assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In August, the Olubadan said Tinubu deserved to remain president for a long time, citing what he described as the President’s performance and the approval of major infrastructure projects.

He had also said Tinubu’s performance could strengthen the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in future elections, while stressing that the President should be regarded as the leader of the entire country rather than only as an APC president.