Ahead of Local Government Election:Don’t drag Olubadan to partisan politics,he has No Anointed Candidate– Media Aide.
Politicians across Oyo State have been called upon to limit their political activities to their respective wards, local governments and leave out the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, who has no anointed candidate in the forthcoming local government election in the state as a father of all.
The Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola made this known while addressing some members of political parties who visited Alareere palace of Oba Lekan Balogun
According to him, the call became imperative in view of the reports alleging that the revered monarch had imposed a Councilorship candidate in Ibadan South-East Local Government on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the Local Government Election holding soon in the state.
The Media Aide recalled that “Kabiyesi Olubadan of Ibadanland as we all know is a royal father and traditional head of Ibadan, a position that confers on him the fathership of all the residents (indigenes and non-indigenes) of the ancient metropolis and it would be preposterous for him to have favourite among contenders.
“No doubt that our Imperial Majesty was a former politician, a former gubernatorial candidate of a political party and later a Senator of the Federal Republic for that matter, but the garb of partisan politics had been dropped years before he ascended the throne of Olubadan and something dropped before he became Olubadan could not now become fashionable to him.
“Oba Balogun appreciates the love of the people for him and cherishes their readiness to associate with the throne, but, he urges the people to keep away from anything that can tarnish his image and the institution he represents. Let the politicians play their game in their own way and don’t drag the throne into it”, the statement added.
As a democrat, Kabiyesi believes in due electoral process and cannot be a party to thwarting the collective decision of any political party. In any electoral contest, majority normally have their way while the minority would have their say and that’s what Kabiyesi believes in and cherishes. Anything outside of that cannot receive Oba Balogun’s nod.
Also in his remarks ,Former Supervising councilor in Ibadan South East local government Engr Ademola Abiola who led Some members of People’s Democratic Party in the council to Olubadan Palace appreciated the respected Monarch for distancing him from issues associated with imposition of Ayodeji Oladepo as ward 12 councilor .
He stressed that the wish of members and ward 12 leaders is Lekan Ajiilore which was unanimously agreed at the Felele residence of PDP Deputy National Chairman South ,Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja.
Engr Ademola Abiola and other stakeholders in ward 12 of Ibadan south East local government urged Governor Seyi Makinde and PDP State Executives to call the chairman of the council area Mr Emmanuel Alawode to order over the imposition of Ayodeji Oladepo instead of Lekan Ajilore who is consensus candidate for ward 12 in Ibadan south East local government.
