By Maroof Asudemade

Governor Seyi Makinde already has an opportunity to demonstrate whether his recent warning to traditional rulers was a matter of principle or merely another political statement that applies conveniently to others.

During his installation as the Aare Asoludero of Ibarapaland by the Eleruwa of Eruwa, the governor reportedly warned that he would “abuse” any traditional ruler who openly gave partisan support to a political candidate. The warning was unusually blunt. Its underlying message appeared straightforward: traditional institutions should not be converted into platforms for partisan politics. That’s fair enough, isn’t it?

But politics has a funny way of testing the sincerity of such declarations. Only yesterday, a group of Ibadan Mogajis openly endorsed Governor Makinde’s presidential ambition under the APM platform and also declared their support for Bimbo Adekanmbi, the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State. That development raises a rather uncomfortable question for the governor: When will he abuse these Mogajis for giving him partisan support? Twenty-four hours have passed, and there have been no words of abuse directed to the partisan Ibadan Mogajis from Governor Makinde.

Before anyone misconstrues the argument, a Mogaji is not the same thing as an Oba or the Olubadan. Mogajis are traditional chiefs and family heads within Ibadan’s traditional structure. Therefore, it would be technically inaccurate to equate every Mogaji with a traditional ruler in the sense of a crowned monarch. But a Mogaji is a traditional ruler in the sense of his headship of a family compound where members of the compound may belong to different political associations. Is a Mogaji not expected to be a father of all members of the compound he heads?

But that technical distinction cannot completely bury the political contradiction. If Governor Makinde’s objection was fundamentally about the politicisation of traditional institutions, then surely the identity of the politician receiving the endorsement should not determine whether the conduct is acceptable. If it is wrong for a traditional office-holder to openly endorse Candidate A, why should it suddenly become acceptable when the beneficiary is Governor Makinde or a candidate associated with his political interest?

And if the governor’s warning was never intended to cover traditional chiefs such as Mogajis, then perhaps he should say so. Otherwise, the impression inevitably created is that partisan traditional involvement becomes objectionable only when it favours the wrong political camp. That would be an unfortunate standard for a governor who has repeatedly presented himself as a politician committed to fairness, inclusiveness and democratic values.

The Mogajis, of course, are citizens. But they may have lost every right as members of traditional institution to support Makinde, Adekanmbi or any other candidate of their choice. Tradition they submit to has legitimately taken that civic right away from them.

But that is the real issue. We need to know whether people occupying recognised positions within a traditional institution should publicly use those positions to confer collective traditional legitimacy on partisan political candidates. And, more importantly, whether Governor Makinde will apply the same standard to political support when that support is directed at him.

This is where the governor faces a simple test of consistency. He cannot reasonably condemn the politicisation of traditional institutions in Ibarapaland while remaining silent when traditional title-holders in Ibadan openly mobilise political support for him. He cannot demand neutrality from traditional rulers when they support his opponents and then celebrate political endorsements from traditional figures when the endorsements are in his favour. That would not be principle. It would be political convenience.

Perhaps, therefore, the governor should tell Nigerians, and particularly the people of Oyo State, exactly where he draws the line. Does his “abuse” warning apply to all traditional title-holders who openly participate in partisan politics? Does it apply to Mogajis? Or does it apply only when the traditional ruler happens to support a candidate whom Governor Makinde does not like?

The ball is now in the governor’s court. The same standard he invoked in Ibarapaland should, by the logic of his own argument, be applicable in Ibadan. So, when will Makinde abuse some Ibadan Mogajis who have openly promised him partisan support? The people deserve to know whether the governor was announcing a principle, or merely issuing a warning to his political opponents.