Oyo Lawmaker, Babalola Denies Impeachment Plot, Reaffirms Loyalty to Makinde, Dismisses Allegations as Baseless
In a move to quell rising political rumors and reaffirm his commitment to the current administration, Honourable Sunkanmi Babalola has issued a comprehensive denial regarding his alleged involvement in any plot to destabilize Oyo State or impeach Governor Seyi Makinde.
The lawmaker, representing Egbeda State Constituency, addressed the public following a series of reports linking him to clandestine meetings aimed at subverting the democratic will of the Oyo State electorate. The Honorable Babalola described the allegations as not only baseless but also a calculated attempt by “mischief-makers” to malign his name and reputation.
Denial of Participation in Secret Meetings
Central to the allegations were claims that Hon. Babalola attended a strategic meeting convened by the Olubadan of Ibadanland and former Governor, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja. Reports suggested that this gathering was centered on orchestrating an impeachment process against Governor Makinde.
In a firm rebuttal, Hon. Babalola stated:
“I wish to state categorically and for the record that I was never part of any meeting called by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to discuss the impeachment of Governor Seyi Makinde. I have the utmost respect for our traditional institutions, but I am not a party to any agenda that seeks to truncate the progress we have achieved under this administration.”
Furthermore, the lawmaker addressed specific rumors regarding a high-level meeting allegedly held last Thursday in Lagos State. The reports claimed the meeting was hosted by Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi at the behest of the Presidency.
The session reportedly included the late arrival of the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Honourable Zacheus Adedeji. It focused on mobilizing resources to influence the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Hon. Babalola dismissed these claims as pure fiction, maintaining that he was not present in Lagos for any such assembly and had no discussions regarding the destabilization of the state government. He reiterated that only Oyo State Speaker Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin attended the meetings, and his unfortunate actions do not represent the entirety of the members of the state assembly.
Allegations of Financial Inducement
Perhaps the most startling aspect of the rumors involved the mention of massive financial inducements. Claims had circulated that members of the House of Assembly were being offered sums ranging from 250 million Naira to 1 billion Naira to facilitate the impeachment process and subvert the mandate given to Engr. Seyi Makinde during the last general election. Babalola took a firm stance against these suggestions, emphasizing that the people’s mandate is not for sale.
“The people of Oyo State spoke clearly and overwhelmingly when they voted for Governor Seyi Makinde,” Babalola said. “No amount of money—whether 250 million or one billion Naira—is sufficient to subvert the collective will of the people. My integrity and my commitment to the development of Oyo State far outweigh any pecuniary gain. We are here to serve, not to be bought.”
Unwavering Loyalty to the “Seyi Lekansi” Mandate
As a key member of the legislative arm, Hon. Babalola reiterated that his loyalty remains firmly with the Governor. He praised the Governor’s “Omituntun 2.0” agenda, citing visible improvements in infrastructure, education, and civil service welfare as reasons why the current administration deserves total support rather than distraction.
He urged his constituents and the general public to disregard the “toxic propaganda” being spread by those who are uncomfortable with the state’s current stability.
“Oyo State is not for sale, and its peace is not negotiable,” he concluded. “I remain a loyal partner in the progress of this state under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde. We will continue to work for the people who put their trust in us, ensuring that the mandate they gave is protected until the very last day.”
