Mr. Dare Adeleke,

With due respect, the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression is fundamental to our democracy. However, like every right, it carries corresponding responsibilities. The exercise of free speech should not become a licence to denigrate revered traditional institutions or to undermine the values and conventions that hold our communities together.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland is not a partisan political office. The Olubadan stool represents the apex of a centuries-old traditional institution founded on impartiality, consensus, dignity, and fatherhood to all sons and daughters of Ibadanland, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, social status, or personal conviction.

The Olubadan stands above partisan politics and serve as a father to all. This is precisely why, at state and federal occasions, the Olubadan is accorded the honour and recognition befitting the traditional father of Ibadanland.

It is against this background that your description of the Olubadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, as being partisan or as having “endorsed APC/Tinubu” requires serious reconsideration and retraction of your statement.

The Role of the Monarch Must Be Properly Understood

A traditional ruler’s presence at a public event involving government, and his expression of goodwill towards those entrusted with public office, should not automatically be interpreted as political endorsement.

Traditional rulers routinely pray for, encourage, bless, and commend governments when they undertake projects or policies that have the potential to benefit their communities. A monarch wishing the President well and expressing hope for continuity in projects that serve the people is not an indication that the monarch has joined a political party or endorsed a candidate.

The Olubadan, as the father of all, has a responsibility to encourage anything that promotes the welfare and development of Ibadanland and Nigeria. That responsibility should not be reduced to partisan calculations.

Tradition Also Demands Respect for the Palace

There is another important dimension to this matter: Ibadan tradition places considerable emphasis on respect, decorum, and the appropriate channels for addressing the throne.

Disagreements are part of public life. However, when concerns relate directly to the conduct, statements, or actions of the Olubadan, our tradition provides appropriate avenues through which such concerns can be raised.

The Palace, the Council of Mogajis, or the appropriate government authorities are better placed to receive and address such concerns than public commentary framed in a manner that may diminish the dignity of the throne.

This is why the reaction of the Mogajis should not simply be dismissed as “manufactured outrage.” Their intervention should be understood within the context of a deeply rooted cultural tradition that places enormous value on the dignity and sanctity of the Olubadan institution.

As we say in Ibadan:

“A gba ni laa ba so, a ki i ba oba ja.”

We advise the king; we do not fight the king.

This means that the manner in which concerns are expressed matters, particularly when dealing with an institution that represents the collective identity and heritage of an entire people.

Let Us Separate Politics from the Throne

If there are genuine concerns regarding the Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode road project, the event at which the Olubadan spoke, the protocol observed, or the interpretation of his remarks, those concerns can and should be subjected to constructive and genuine thinking before resorting to unnecessary outburst.

And in doing so, we must be careful not to reduce the Olubadan to the status of a political party chieftain simply because he spoke positively about a government project or expressed goodwill towards the President.

The Olubadan belongs to all Ibadan people.

He belongs to those who support the APC, those who support the PDP, those who support other political parties, and those who choose not to participate in partisan politics at all. He is the traditional father of all.

That is precisely why the dignity and neutrality of the throne should be protected by everyone, regardless of political affiliation.

Freedom of Speech Must Be Matched With Responsibility

We all value freedom of expression. It is one of the pillars of a democratic society. But responsible speech requires that we distinguish between legitimate criticism of public policy and language or framing that could unnecessarily undermine revered institutions.

The Constitution protects our right to express our opinions. Our culture, however, also reminds us that wisdom lies not only in what we say, but in how, where, and to whom we say it.

There is room for robust political debate. There is room for disagreement with government. There is even room for disagreement with traditional institutions.

But there should also be room for respect, restraint, dialogue, and cultural sensitivity.

The present controversy should therefore not become another political battle. Let us debate policies and politics without dragging the Olubadan stool into partisan contestation.

Let us protect the dignity of the institution while allowing every citizen the legitimate space to express his or her views.

The Olubadan is not the property of a political party. He is the traditional father of Ibadanland.

Let us therefore disagree without disrespect, criticise without denigrating, and defend our democratic freedoms without abandoning the cultural values that have bound our people together for generations.

Ki Olubadan pe lori apere, ki Ibadan o si ma tesiwaju.

Signed,

Surv. Dr. Koleoso Abiodun Alabi Reuben
Mogaji Ilori Koleoso
Oritamerin Oja’ba, Ibadan