Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
We went against the rules guiding land use in GRAs to allow Ajimobi's burial - Governor Seyi Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that his administration went against the land use rule in Oyo state to give approval for the burial of former Governor of the state, Abiola Ajimobi at his Oluyole Estate residence.
Makinde who denied that his government was responsible for the delay of the burial, said Ajimobi's family had sought approval for his burial in a plot of land at Agodi GRA, but the request was denied because the land was under litigation. The Oyo state Governor's spokesperson Taiwo Adisa said the Oyo state government later allowed the burial of the Ajimobi at his residence, against the state's rules on lands in Government Reservation Areas (GRA).
The statement read;
“In view of the intense inquiries from news media organizations regarding the perceived delay in burying the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Government wishes to place on record that there is no truth in the rumor making the rounds that the burial is being delayed by the state government. “The rumor, which is being deliberately spread to give the state government a bad name and to play undue politics with the dead, initially came by the way of social media gossip, which gained traction to attract the attention of traditional media outfits.“Several media outfits reached out to the Media Office of the Governor of Oyo State to make inquiries on this barefaced lie on Saturday.“Let it be stated clearly that the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has played no role at all in causing any delay whatsoever regarding the burial of his immediate predecessor, Senator Ajimobi.“The truth of the matter is that the family, through a proxy, approached the state government and sought approval to bury the late governor on a plot of land at Agodi GRA, which is currently under litigation. Incidentally, it was the same former Governor Ajimobi who instituted the legal action.“Governor Seyi Makinde had no choice than to state the facts as they are to the emissaries and turn down the request.“Governor Makinde, however, against the established land use rule in Oyo State, gave approval that the family can bury the late governor in his Oluyole Estate residence.“It is to be noted that the rules guiding land use in Government Reservation Areas (GRA) forbid the burial of bodies in such locations as Oluyole Estate and Agodi GRA.“Let us also put on record that whereas the family did not follow the laid down protocols in passing information on the sickness and eventual demise of Senator Ajimobi, Governor Makinde overlooked all that and directed the full cooperation of the government with the family on this matter.“It can only amount to a wicked lie to insinuate that the incumbent government in Oyo State attempted to obstruct the burial of the immediate past governor.”