The media space in Oyo State has once again been charged with intense debate following a shocking revelation by a respected Ibadan Mogaji and influential politician, Abass Oloko, that majority of Governor Seyi Makinde’s appointees are wallowing in poverty and facing difficult times despite their positions in government.
The revelation sparked controversy after a group described as Ibadan youths responded by questioning Oloko’s political journey and standing in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy hierarchy, rather than concentrating solely on the substance of his claims.
Reacting to the criticism, Oloko reaffirmed his earlier claims, describing himself as popular and valuable and alleging that those sponsoring the attacks lacked the courage to confront him directly, resorting instead to pseudonyms.
“I’m popular and valuable, that’s why their sponsors lack the courage to confront hence they resolve to pseudonyms,” Oloko stated in a message on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
The Mogaji insisted that he stood by his allegation concerning the financial condition of political appointees in the present administration, urging those unsettled by his disclosure to accept it in good faith.
“I stand by what I said that appointees of the present administration are wallowing in abject poverty. If my revelation rattles their camp, they should accept it in good faith,” he said.
Oloko had made the original allegation during a podcast interview hosted by Dare Adekanmbi and published on YouTube by Ope Forum 360.
During the interview, he alleged that a serving two-term commissioner in Governor Makinde’s administration sold his official car to pay the university fees of one of his children studying in Ghana. He did not disclose the commissioner’s identity.
He further claimed that some appointees defending the government’s policies and programmes were doing so despite personal financial difficulties, adding that some of those still serving in the administration were waiting for an appropriate time to leave.
The allegation attracted a response published by online platforms in a report titled “Ibadan Residents React To Abass Oloko Statement, Say Good Name More Valuable Than Wealth.”
The report featured comments from individuals described as Ibadan youths who questioned Oloko’s political consistency and traditional standing, while arguing that public office should be about service delivery, integrity and responsible management of public resources rather than personal wealth accumulation.
The individuals reportedly questioned why Oloko had not been promoted from the Mogaji position to the Jagun line in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy hierarchy, comparing his position with that of others who, according to them, became Mogajis after him but had progressed further in the traditional system.
Responding to the criticism of his traditional standing, Oloko argued that promotion within the Ibadan chieftaincy hierarchy was not automatic, noting that some individuals who held the Mogaji title before him were never promoted to the Olubadan line.
“There were people before me in the Mogaji line that never got promoted to Olubadan line. It’s the will of God that one gets promoted to the line, and I’m grateful for my position as an authentic Mogaji in Ibadanland,” he said.
The cross-fire comes amid political realignments and discussions surrounding the 2027 general elections.
