A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo, has faulted criticisms of Governor Seyi Makinde over the reported presentation of a brand-new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon 500 to the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Barrister Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, as a birthday gift.
The reported presentation has been criticised in some quarters, with critics arguing that it exposes a disturbing development in the governor’s attitude towards Yoruba traditional institutions. Beyond the extravagance of the gesture, they have also raised questions about his priorities, sense of responsibility and regard for the revered royal institutions of Ibadan and Oyo.
However, Ojo, reacting to the controversy via a post on his Facebook page , said he failed to understand how the governor’s gesture could amount to an insult to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Alaafin of Oyo or any other traditional ruler.
He described Ajewole as a respected senior legal practitioner and an illustrious son of Ibadanland who had contributed immensely to the development of Ibadan and Oyo State.
According to him, Ajewole’s contributions to society dated back to his days as a student union activist at the College of Education, Ila Orangun, and the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University.
He also credited Ajewole with pioneering the erection of statues of prominent Ibadan warlords and heroes across the city, describing him as a man who had consistently demonstrated commitment to the preservation of Ibadan’s history and heritage.
Ojo maintained that Ajewole, whom he described as a respected son of the Olubadan and a proud indigene of Ibadanland and Oyo State, deserved the recognition and gift from Governor Makinde.
He urged stakeholders to separate genuine gestures of appreciation from political considerations, insisting that the governor’s action should not be politicised.
“Let us always separate genuine and sincere intentions from politics,” he said.
He consequently commended Makinde for the gesture and congratulated Ajewole on the G-Wagon gift.
