Posted by By AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
Newly appointed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, on Thursday lampooned the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for his apparent failure to upgrade and maintain major roads in the southern region of the country, describing his eight years administration as a regret.
Newly appointed Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade 1, on Thursday lampooned the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for his apparent failure to upgrade and maintain major roads in the southern region of the country, describing his eight years administration as a regret.
The monarch also blamed the erstwhile president for his alleged support and collaboration with certain individuals in Oyo State, who have bastardized the age-long Ibadan traditional institution.
Oba Odugade spoke during a courtesy visit on him by the management team of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, led by its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr Dejo Raimi.
Responding to the complaint of the vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Adebisi Balogun, that his entourage was held up at the Akure/Ibadan Expressway, owing to the condition of the road, Oba Odugade regretted that no attempt was made to upgrade major roads in the southern region of the country during the eight-year rule of Obasanjo.
Referring to the recent public apology tendered by the Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, over the total collapse of Benin/Sagamu road, Oba Odugade stated that the Obasanjo administration performed poorly in the southern region.
"I sympathize with you for what delayed you from coming at 12 noon as planned. That has been the nature of our roads for the last eight years. One of the ministers even apologized to Nigerians recently while inspecting one of the major highways. Ibadan people, too, have gained nothing from that tenure," Odugade said.
Regretting the conspiracy against Ibadan, the largest city in Sub-Saharan Africa, Oba Odugade lamented that all efforts to get Ibadan state has been frustrated by enemies within and outside, while headquarters of both Eastern and Northern regions, Kaduna and Enugu, have both been transformed to states.
"I don't know why Ibadan has been neglected all along. The houses here alone are about one million and the population is between six and seven million people. I have told both the Senate and House of Representatives members who came here to felicitate with me that Ibadan has been neglected for no reason.
"Just pray for me that I will be able to implement all my heart's desires as regard Ibadan tradition institution, which has been bastardized since the last 26 years. We also have people, backed by the former president, who further bastardized the institution. Issues of chieftaincy can't be compromised but must be sanitized.
"That is why I told the Olubadan-in-Council that they should choose between their traditional roles and partisan politics. Whoever cannot do without politics should leave his traditional position and face partisan politics. Can you imagine that the man that is going about claiming to be Ekerin Olubadan is actually Ekarun Olubadan," Oba Odugade stated.
Earlier at the visit, the vice chancellor disclosed that the management team of the institution had come to felicitate "with a distinguished alumnus" of the institution, who he said was awarded honorary doctorate degree two years ago.
Prof. Balogun stated that the appointment of Oba Odugade, as the new Olubadan, has lent credence to the award conferred on the monarch by the authorities of FUTA, saying the institution would continue to run to him (Olubadan) for guidance and advice.