Amidst the loud denials, perfunctory assurances, and the deafening silence from some key political actors, uncertainty lurks in the dark, and critical questions remain unanswered. Will these public expressions of fealty be enough to calm frayed nerves and douse tensions? Will they strengthen the governor’s position and derail the plans of his political opponents?
It is the season of high-stakes politicking in Nigeria. One that’s usually typified by and fraught with cutthroat horse-trading, mindless treachery, disconcerting realignment and selfish alliance. All this happens with a dizzying frenzy and jarring hysteria that makes it difficult for many bystanders and observers to keep up with the pace and intensity of these political histrionics.
From the Appeal Court judgment on the African Democratic Congress leadership impasse to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s questionable application of the judgment and the ADC’s decision to call the commission’s bluff and proceed with its Congress and convention. From the exposure of INEC’s chairman as a loyalist of President Bola Tinubu and an apologist for the All Progressives Congress, as revealed through his digital footprint, to the ruling party’s defence of the chairman’s actions, the political landscape has been dominated by confounding and unsettling events that could have serious ramifications for our democracy in the not-too-distant future.
However, while all this was happening, equally consequential political drama was playing out elsewhere and did not receive the same attention as the aforementioned events until a few days ago. In the last few days, rumours of an impeachment plot against the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, have been swirling like a deadly volcano. But what started as a negligible speculation and hushed conjecture has since morphed into a political crisis that is now threatening to plunge the state into unrest and instability.
One cannot say with certainty what the genesis of the imbroglio is but those with inside and intimate knowledge about the troubling developments have attributed it to the scrambling for who will succeed Makinde and to some extent the Peoples Democratic Party leadership crisis. The move to pick Makinde’s successor has reportedly also triggered a cold war between the governor and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, with the governor purportedly moving to depose the King.
On Tuesday, the former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, visited Olubadan. Speaking with journalists at the residence of the monarch, he warned Makinde against proceeding with the planned dethronement of Olubadan. He stated that Makinde has plans to remove the monarch, warning that Makinde’s position is tied to absolute constitutional stipulations and he will definitely leave office at some point while the monarch’s position is divine and determined by God and destiny and will remain on the traditional stool as long as he is alive.
Fayose said, “I said what I said, although it is not for this gathering. The Olubadan has an eternal tenure with God. I was once a governor at times. Your tenure was tied with the constitution of Nigeria, every other tenure, like the Olubadan of Ibadanland is tied with God. Those who are fumbling today should remember that their tenure is time-bound. Olubadan, by the grace of God, you will see another governor, you will see another governor after that, you will see another governor after that and God will keep you on the throne because Ibadan needs you.”
It must be said here that Fayose’s visit to Olubadan and his strong allegation of Makinde’s plot to remove the monarch is not entirely rooted in genuine concern and sincere sense of responsibility for the monarch and the traditional institution he represents but spurred by political gamesmanship and desire to leverage perceived rift between the governor, whom he had an acrimonious relationship with, and the monarch to advance his own interest.
There are speculations that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whose faction of the PDP Fayose belongs to, may be connected to the alleged plot to impeach Makinde using the Oyo State House of Assembly. It is believed that the removal of Makinde, who is the only governor left in the PDP and the highest-ranking elected official in the party, from office will remove the last obstacle in their part and give them total control of the party without having to worry about a disenchanted and aggrieved governor that would, in seeking is own pound of flesh, work against their interests.
However, as the speculation of Makinde gains traction, major actors and stakeholders in Oyo politics have made their position known on the matter with some assembly members distancing themselves from the rumoured plot while others have been conspicuously silent.
Olubadan described claims that he is somehow involved in a plot to unseat Makinde as false and “dirty politics” and implored the public to disregard the claims and desist from dragging Olubadan’s stool into it.
Also, Oyo State’s former First Lady and ambassador-designate to Austria, Florence Ajimobi, said she has no hand in the purported plot to remove Makinde from office. She described narratives linking her to an alleged plot to instigate lawmakers to impeach the Governor as “entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate act of disinformation” aimed at tarnishing her reputation and misleading the public.
According to the Vanguard, a crucial meeting was held at the residence of the governor on Monday where lawmakers expressed concern over an attempt to create a rift between the legislative and executive arms of government.
While some lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker, have openly denied any involvement in an impeachment plot, others have been mute further fuelling concerns of a lack of unity among the lawmakers.
The chief whip, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, is the first to publicly declare where he stands on the impeachment saga. In a statement on his verified Facebook account, he debunked claims of being involved in any impeachment plot against the governor, stressing that he is not part of any move capable of plunging the state into crisis and turmoil, stating unequivocally that he was neither invited to nor aware of any such plan.
Oyekola stated that at the meeting it was revealed that some influential political and traditional figures approached the speaker regarding his future ambitions. According to him, huge financial offers were made to the Speaker which he said the Speaker rejected outright. Oyekola reiterated his support for Makinde and pledged unflinching commitment and unwavering loyalty to him, underscoring his dedication to the administration and to sustaining peace, stability and progress across the state.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Ogundoyin, has, however, denied allegations that he received money from persons connected to the APC to orchestrate the impeachment of Makinde, describing the claim as false and politically motivated. He said that no money exchanged hands at any meeting, adding that the rumour was contrived to destroy his reputation and destabilise the state government and the legislature. He added that he would never betray the mandate of the people or work against Makinde’s administration. He reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the governor and the ruling party.
Amid the loud denials, public assurances and the deafening silence by some, uncertainty lurks in the dark and critical questions remain unanswered. Will these public expressions of fealty be enough to calm frayed nerves and douse tensions? Will they strengthen the governor’s position, shield the speaker from mounting pressure, or do they merely mask the brewing crisis and mask deep division within the assembly?
Many believe that the decision of some lawmakers to remain mute and declare where their position and where their allegiance lies may be as crucial as the statements already made, pointing to underlying divisions
