By Richard Thomas
Politicians across Oyo State have been called upon to limit their political activities to their respective constituencies and leave out the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr) Lekan Balogun, CFR, Alli Okunmade II, who has no anointed candidate in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
The call was contained in press statement by the Personal Assistant (Media) to the Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola saying 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.
In the statement, 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 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.
“There is 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, but the garb of partisan politics had been dropped years before he ascended the throne of Olubadan and something he dropped before he became Olubadan could not now become fashionable to him.
“The Monarch 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.
