“Is Backing Makinde, an Ibadan Son, for the Highest Office Now a Crime?” — Mogaji Abiodun Defends Akere

Mogaji Ejilola Sefiu Abiodun has faulted calls by a group urging the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) to reconsider the appointment of Mogaji Gbolagade Moshood Akere as Chairman of the Ibadan Cultural Festival over his political views and support for an Ibadan son.

Abiodun described the demand as unnecessary and capable of creating avoidable division among Ibadan indigenes and stakeholders, arguing that Akere’s personal political preference has no bearing on his ability to coordinate an event dedicated to the culture, history, heritage, unity and development of Ibadanland.

He questioned the rationale behind linking Akere’s political choice to his responsibility as chairman of the cultural festival.

“What exactly does Mogaji Akere’s political choice have to do with the Ibadan Cultural Festival? Is the chairman of a cultural festival required to surrender his constitutional right to support a political candidate?” he asked.

According to him, being entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating a cultural event does not strip an individual of his political rights, personal convictions or freedom of association.

Abiodun maintained that Akere, as an Ibadan son, Mogaji and stakeholder, has every right to support the political candidate of his choice.

“Must an Ibadan son stop having a political opinion simply because he has been given the responsibility of promoting Ibadan’s culture and heritage? A person can have a political preference and still work fairly with people who support different political parties,” he said.

He stressed that political neutrality should not be confused with political silence, noting that supporting a particular candidate does not automatically make an individual incapable of bringing people from different political backgrounds together.

Abiodun also challenged an alleged claim by the spokesman of the group that Akere is a member of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), demanding evidence to substantiate the assertion.

“If they are saying Mogaji Akere is a member of the APM, can they provide evidence to substantiate that claim? If he belongs to the party, let the evidence be presented. If he does not, why make such a claim?” he queried.

He further argued that attempting to connect Akere’s political preference with the Ibadan Cultural Festival was misplaced, stressing that the festival should remain focused on the collective heritage and development of Ibadanland.

“The festival is about Ibadan culture, heritage, history, unity and development. It is not a political party meeting,” he stated.

According to him, unless there is evidence that Akere intends to turn the cultural festival into a political platform or discriminate against Ibadan people based on their political affiliations, his personal political preference should not be treated as a qualification issue.

Abiodun said it would be unfair to expect every Ibadan stakeholder to share the same political opinion, stressing that diversity of political views should not be allowed to undermine the unity of the city.

“If an Ibadan Mogaji supports an Ibadan candidate, that is his political choice. If another Mogaji supports a different candidate, that is also his right. Nobody owns the political voice of Ibadan,” he said.

He urged those behind the campaign against Akere to refrain from turning political differences into an issue capable of generating unnecessary tension among Ibadan stakeholders.

“Those who genuinely love Ibadan should be careful not to create unnecessary political tension among our people. We have more important issues to face as a people,” he said.

Mogaji Abiodun maintained that Akere should be judged on his ability to promote Ibadan’s cultural heritage, advance the objectives of the festival and unite people across political divides, rather than on the political candidate he chooses to support.

“Let Akere do his job. Let him exercise his political rights. Let other people exercise theirs. At the end of the day, we are all sons and daughters of Ibadan, and Ibadan is bigger than any political party,” Mogaji Ejilola Sefiu Abiodun declared.