2027: Let The People Decide — Mogajis Must Not Become Political Campaigners || ▪︎ By Wale Omoboyesola

15th of  September, 2026

By Wale Omoboyesola

 

The controversy surrounding Mogaji Akere and the alleged collective position of the Mogajis of Ibadanland deserves a sober and objective response. Nobody should turn the respected institution of Mogajis into a political instrument or use it to silence fellow Ibadan indigenes who hold different political opinions.

 

First, it is important to clarify the position of the Chairman of the Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee. The Chairman is a co-opted member of the CCII Executive Council in accordance with the CCII Constitution. Being a member of the CCII Executive Council does not automatically prevent a person from belonging to or supporting a political party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CCII has not imposed a blanket prohibition preventing its executive members from being partisan. The important distinction is that when an executive member accepts a political appointment, such a person should resign the CCII executive position rather than combine the political appointment with the CCII office.

 

There are several examples that demonstrate this principle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Waheed Ekun, during the tenure of Chief Bayo Oyero as President of CCII, was the Secretary General of the organisation. When he was appointed by the then Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as Special Adviser on Sports Development, he resigned his position as Secretary General of CCII.

 

There is also the example of Elder GBA Adelabu, who, as I recall, served as CCII Treasurer while also being an active APC leader. Nothing happened to him merely because he was partisan. He continued to serve because he had not accepted a political appointment while occupying the CCII office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That distinction is fundamental: partisan political affiliation is not the same thing as holding a government political appointment.

 

There is also the example of Balogun Gaphar Ojetola, who was an active APC member when he was appointed Chairman of the Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee during the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, a PDP-led government. His political affiliation did not prevent him from serving in that cultural capacity, and he was also able to support Governor Makinde.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what exactly is the new argument against Mogaji Akere?

 

If political affiliation did not disqualify an APC member from serving as Chairman of the Ibadan Cultural Festival Planning Committee under a PDP-led administration, why should the political preference of Mogaji Akere suddenly become a reason to question his right to participate in public discourse?

 

The principle must be the same for everybody.

 

Mogaji Akere is allowed to be partisan.

 

Other Mogajis are also allowed to be partisan.

 

CCII members are allowed to have political preferences.

 

What nobody should do is convert a personal political preference into the supposedly unanimous position of the entire Ibadan traditional institution.

 

If some Mogajis have decided to support the APC candidate, that is their democratic right. If Mogaji Akere chooses to support another candidate, that is also his democratic right.

 

You cannot defend your own political preference and condemn another person’s political preference.

 

The people of Ibadanland are sophisticated enough to understand the difference between a collective traditional position and an individual political position.

 

If the so-called collective political position of the Mogajis is actually intended to operate like a political organisation, perhaps the proponents should be bold enough to register a political party called “Mogajis Ibadan People’s Party”, so that everybody will know that it is a political organisation and that its members are prepared to take political instructions from the palace.

 

But the Mogaji institution is not a political party.

 

Mogajis are fathers of their respective compounds and important stakeholders in Ibadanland. They should therefore be broad-minded enough to accommodate different political opinions among their people.

 

If we are not careful, the increasing politicisation of our traditional institutions could weaken the very institution we claim to be protecting.

 

Political parties will come and go. Candidates will come and go. Governors will come and go. Presidents will come and go.

 

But the traditional institution of Ibadanland must remain.

 

That is why every stakeholder must exercise restraint.

 

Let Mogaji Akere support whoever he wants.

 

Let other Mogajis support whoever they want.

 

Let CCII members exercise their democratic rights.

 

Let political parties campaign.

 

But let nobody claim ownership of the conscience of Ibadanland.

 

The ultimate decision belongs to the people.

 

Nobody owns Ibadanland. Nobody owns the Mogaji institution. Nobody owns the votes of Ibadan people.

 

The 2027 election should be about competence, character, experience, performance, programmes and the ability of each candidate to serve the people—not about which political camp has succeeded in capturing one traditional institution or another.

 

Let the candidates campaign. Let the Mogajis maintain their dignity. Let traditional institutions remain above partisan politics. And let the people decide.