Gbenro Adesina
The Oyo State Government has stated its own side of the widely reported denial of entry of two foremost Yoruba kings, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso I, into the Lekan Salami Stadium Complex during the unveiling of its main bowl yesterday.
It would be recalled that both traditional and online media yesterday quoted Oba Adeyemi and Oba Adetunji, expressed through their media aides condemning the security operatives for disallowing them to enter the main bowl of Lekan Salami Stadium, to be part of the ceremony to celebrate the remodeling of the stadium.
Punch Newspaper reported, “The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, reportedly left the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in anger on Wednesday evening after security operatives deployed at the entrance of the newly remodeled stadium prevented them from going in.
According to the foremost national newspaper in Nigeria, “Our correspondent gathered that the prominent traditional rulers had gone to the stadium with their aides but the security agents stopped them”.
It added, “It was learnt that the 82-year-old Alaafin and the 93-year-old Ibadan monarch were made to wait for almost 30 minutes as the security agents at the gate were said to have insisted that just one of the aides would be allowed to go in with each of the monarchs”.
It stated further, “The spokesman for the Olubadan, Chief Adeola Oloko, when was contacted on the telephone, confirmed the shabby treatment of the royal father to our correspondent. Responding to the inquiry sent to him by our correspondent, Oloko said, “Very true despite having the entry requirements”.
“Oloko said the monarch did not have anything against Governor Seyi Makinde, who he said, did a wonderful job but blamed the overzealous security agents for what he called lack of discretion”, the newspaper pointed out.
Also, the spokesman for the Alaafin, Bode Durojaye, who confirmed the incident said, “Overzealousness of the security agents there prevented the Alaafin from entering. I did not go but I have just being briefed”.
In a statement signed by Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, the state government pointed out that the security operatives did not stop the monarchs from entering the sporting complex.
The statement said that the two foremost royal fathers were too important to the state government to be prevented from attending the event, to which they had been duly invited.
According to the statement, the inability of the monarchs to gain access into the main bowl was because of the huge enthusiastic crowd that swarmed on the stadium and obstructed the movement of the monarchs’ convoys to the designated VVIP Drop Off zone, which was the easiest channel to their reserved seats.
It stated, “What happened was that security operatives advised that the drivers of the revered monarchs make their way through another gate, since their convoys were unable to access the VVIP Drop Off Zone from the gate they entered through. From the VVIP Drop Off Zone, it would be easy for the monarchs to access the VVIP box without meandering through the stairs, as that would have unduly stressed them given their age”.
It added that seats of the monarchs were already reserved, and that the government valued their presence, saying: “It is unthinkable that some individuals would try to create a wedge between the palaces of the respective monarchs and the state government, which holds them in high esteem”.
The statement noted that all other monarchs who were inside the VVIP box including the Olugbon of Ile Igbon, Aseyin of Iseyin, the Okere of Saki, the Olu of Igboora were well recognized, adding that “this was an evidence that the government places huge premium of respect on the stools of our forebears as occupied by the monarchs.
“His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde wishes to categorically state that the Alaafin and the Olubadan were well-expected at the event and that their seats were reserved. The government frowns on reports indicating that the convoys of the revered monarchs were not treated accordingly and would take appropriate steps to correct any untoward indication”, the statement added.
The statement, however, cautioned fake news mongers, whom it said were seeking avenues to punctuate the glorious event at the Lekan Salami Stadium by circulating bad news.
“For instance, some online reports claimed that the Aseyin of Iseyin was not allowed entry. That is very far from the truth. The Aseyin was inside the stadium and he stayed throughout the event. It is instructive that the Kabiyesi has come out to clarify that falsehood and also adduce reasons, which could have been responsible for the inability of the Alaafin of Oyo and Olubadan of Ibadanland to gain access into the Stadium. Some of the mischief makers also alleged that former Governor Rashidi Ladoja boycotted the event and this too, is a big lie, as the Osi Olubadan attended and gave a goodwill message at the event. We can only advise mischief makers and fake news carriers to stop their ploys, as no antic would work against the good intentions of the governor and the positive impact that the remodelling of the once-neglected Lekan Salami Stadium has made on Oyo State”.
The Governor’s media aide equally described attempts to rubbish the stadium project by some opposition elements as misguided, stating that the claim that only the stadium cost N5 billion was untrue and mischievous.
He maintained that the amount being touted was for the cost of fixing the entire sports complex, which is in phases.
The Government said, “Some critics have attempted to blow the cost of fixing the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba out of proportion, especially in view of the water that logged on sections of the pitch due to heavy rain. Let it be placed on record that the main bowl of the stadium was only the first phase of the entire project which comes in phases. There is the main bowl, the gymnasium and indoor sports hall for a variety of sporting activities, a world class Tennis court as well as the luxury apartments which will be given out on annual subscription”.
“Besides, the pitch as seen on Wednesday is work in progress, because the contractor has not handed over the project to the state government. The contractor had explained that the pitch needed three more months to fully solidify so that the automatic drainage system would become fully functional. But the unveiling had to be done to ensure that our darling Shooting Stars Sports Club returns to Ibadan, having been forced to play their matches outside the state for so long owing to absence of a good pitch in Ibadan. The contractor has given his assurance to address the challenges of the pitch and by the time the works are completed, Oyo State would definitely have the value for its money, which has always been the priority and intention of Governor Makinde”, the statement concluded.
