The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, has warned politicians preparing for the 2027 governorship election in Oyo State not to rely on his name or influence to win votes.
Speaking with journalists at his residence in Bodija, Ibadan, the former governor said the success or failure of any candidate would depend on their character, public image and relationship with the people.
According to the monarch, several governorship hopefuls have been linking themselves with him as political campaigns gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ladoja noted that he sees all politicians in the state as his children and has no issue with anyone mentioning his name during campaigns.
However, he stressed that voters would ultimately decide who becomes governor based on performance, credibility and popularity, not because of royal association or endorsements.
The traditional ruler explained that the people of the state are now more interested in leaders with proven records and genuine connections with the grassroots.
Oba Ladoja also reacted to the recent abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, describing the incident as painful and disturbing.
He expressed confidence that security agencies and the government are working behind the scenes to ensure the safe return of the victims.
According to him, some security operations cannot be made public because of their sensitive nature.
The monarch further condemned the growing cases of land grabbing in Ibadan and called for stronger measures to tackle the problem across the ancient city.