President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, on Wednesday stated that Ibadan will never turn itself into a political gatekeeper or restrict the Oyo state governorship to its indigenes. Instead, he said the city will continue to support any aspirant, Ibadan or not, who demonstrates competence, credibility, and the capacity to lead.
Ajewole stated this while speaking at a live programme of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS),Ibadan, titled: the Guest of the Month.
He said even though Ibadan has the highest concentration of local governments in Oyo State, 11 out of 33, the city has never monopolised power, pointing out that past elections where non-Ibadan candidates defeated strong Ibadan contenders, notably former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala’s victory over major Ibadan politicians, including the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
“For us in Ibadan, competence is what matters. If a candidate is capable and accepted by the people, we will vote for him, even against an Ibadan candidate. Ibadan voters are not blind followers. Ibadan will not gate-keep the governorship.
“If a non-Ibadan man comes, campaigns here, convinces the people, and earns their trust, we will support him. That is who we are. Performance, not origin, will always guide our choice”, he said.
Ajewole lauded Governor Seyi Makinde’s performance, describing him as a leader who came into office without prior political appointment, yet delivered beyond expectation. He particularly highlighted the Ibadan Circular Road, a long-conceived project dating back to the Ladoja administration.
He said: “The idea of the Circular Road had always been there. Makinde came and took it up. When they complete it, it will be of immense benefit to all of us. That is what leadership looks like, continuity and execution.”
Regarding concerns about protests surrounding the circular road, he added,“Talks are ongoing. Our governor is a people’s governor, and we have been having meetings with him. We believe the outcome will be positive.”
He added that the governor’s responsiveness to public complaints, even on minor issues, has earned him respect across the state. “What he promised in infrastructure, he has delivered. And when people call his attention to something, he fixes it,” he said.
Ajewole used the platform to clarify the identity question that often stirs controversy. An Ibadan indigene, he said, is defined strictly through paternal lineage, not residence or maternal connection.
“Ibadan was built by warriors; it is a republican city. Our identity comes from our fathers,” he explained. He then expressed concern over the rapid sale of ancestral lands to outsiders, noting that while Ibadan people are naturally accommodating, unchecked sales could dilute the city’s heritage.
“We believe in one Nigeria, but other regions rarely sell their land; they lease it. We are advising Ibadan families to do the same,” he said.
He noted that the Olubadan-in-Council has already set up a committee to handle the matter.
On security, Ajewole acknowledged major progress in Ibadan, attributing part of it to the compound security initiative founded by Chief Dotun Sanusi. Through this system, local compounds have designated security volunteers trained by the police, with the Olubadan empowering compound heads as first-line security officers.
“Today, we no longer have the menace of One Million Boys. Ibadan is safer because security has become everybody’s business,” he said.
Ajewole also spoke about Nigeria’s political structure, arguing that the country cannot progress unless it returns to true federalism.
