The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has dismissed claims linking him to an alleged plan to unseat Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, the monarch described the allegation as false and urged those behind it not to drag the Olubadan throne into political controversies.

The statement reads partly, “The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has refuted claims that Kabiyesi was planning to unseat the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde. To say the least, this is a lie.”

The reaction comes amid recent reports of alleged controversy involving both the governor and the monarch over claims of a separate plot to remove Ladoja from the Olubadan stool.

Tribune Online reports that both leaders had earlier dismissed the allegation as baseless, while criticising former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who made the claim publicly.

Fayose had alleged that the Oyo State Government was planning to dethrone the monarch and sanction him over his absence at the elevation ceremony of High Chief Sharafadeen Ali in Ibadan.

However, the Oyo State Government, through the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, denied the claim, stating that no such move had been considered or discussed.

Addressing the fresh allegation, Ladoja maintained that a traditional ruler has no constitutional authority to remove a sitting governor, noting that even the impeachment of a local government chairman is beyond the powers of a monarch.

He also raised concerns over what he described as conflicting narratives surrounding the issue, coming shortly after the earlier claim involving the Olubadan stool and the state government. (TRIBUNE)