Day I had 45 minutes shouting match with Ajimobi ― Alaafin

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Monday, recounted the several areas of differences relating to traditional matters that he had with Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State over the course of the past eight years, particularly making reference to a 45 minutes shouting match with Ajimobi on chieftaincy issues on April 6, 2018.

Noting that those instances of differences usually related to filling some important traditional positions in the state, Oba Adeyemi said only persons with undisputable facts would defeat Ajimobi in such engagements.

He, however, said Ajimobi, even at the peak of his furry, was always ready to submit to superior arguments on chieftaincy matters.

Oba Adeyemi, who spoke when he led the state council of Obas and Chiefs on a courtesy visit to Ajimobi, at governor’s office, Ibadan, particularly praised Ajimobi for largely maintaining a cordial relationship with traditional institutions in the state.

According to Oba Adeyemi, Ajimobi efficiently handled traditional institution in the state because of his ardent belief in using dialogue to resolve chieftaincy related issues.

“I cannot but commend him with the way he handled traditional institution in the state. To a very great extent, he maintained a cordial relationship with traditional institutions in the state. He is able to make peace with the traditional institutions because he believes in dialogue as a vital weapon for resolving the crisis.

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“Especially between me as the permanent Chairman and the governor, we used to have areas of differences especially when on the matter of filling of some important titles in the state.

“On the 6th of April 2018, here in this chamber, the governor and the Alaafin engaged in a shouting match for about 45 minutes on chieftaincy question. Heaven did not fall. The governor excused himself and came back with a document. I disputed the originality of that document and he said it was a gazette that was already passed.

“Three days after, the governor convened a meeting and the matter was settled. If you want to engage the governor, you must be sure of your facts, he has everything on his fingertips. Unless you are a master of polemics, the governor will defeat you within 10 minutes. He knows his onions.

“But one thing to his credit is that no matter how hot the temper might be, he knows how to cool you down as he is always ready to submit to superior arguments on chieftaincy matters which is my most favourite subject from my primary constituency,” Oba Adeyemi said.

Doing an appraisal, Oba Adeyemi described Ajimobi’s eight years governance as a blessing to the state.

He particularly lauded Ajimobi’s strides in ensuring relative peace in the state, rehabilitation of roads in all zones of the state, diversification of tertiary education to other zones of the state and increasing the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.