The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has said candidates’ track records and people-oriented programmes would be the determining factors in the 2027 polls.
Speaking with journalists at his Bodija residence, the monarch said politicians have the right to associate with him and leverage his name to advance their political ambitions.
Oba Ladoja, a former senator and ex-governor of Oyo State, however, noted that using his name alone could not guarantee electoral victory.
“Let them use my name to promote themselves if it is meaningful to them, but the populace will decide who rules them at the end of the day, not my name,” he said.
The Olubadan urged aspirants to focus on service delivery and programs that directly impact people’s lives, adding that voters in Oyo State would prioritise competence and credibility over mere affiliations.
On the recent abduction of pupils in Oriire Local Government Area, Oba Ladoja said government and security agencies were doing their best to secure the release of the abductees.
He added that details of ongoing operations were often not disclosed for security reasons.
“Government and security agencies are trying their best. It’s just that they won’t tell you what they’re doing to secure the release of those abducted for security purposes,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, congratulated Muslims on the Eid al-Kabir festival while urging them to remain vigilant during Sallah celebrations.
The first-class monarch who said this in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan on Wednesday, contended that to be alive to witness the Sallah celebration is a privilege that people should not take for granted.
According to him, watching one’s back entails being security-conscious of one’s environment at all times, while celebrating the exemplary life of the holy Prophet Ibrahim, who offered his son, Ismail, as a sacrifice to God.
