Election: Allow brotherliness , Olubadan tells politicians
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has called on the all governoship candidates to allow love and brotherliness guard their utterances ahead of the March 18 elections.
The monarch who made this call during a meeting with the Action Democratic Party governoship candidate, Akim Ademola Yusuf, at his Alarere residence on Saturday, said the urge became necessary due to the clamour for peaceful co-existence in Oyo State.
In a statement signed by his Personal Assistant, Media, Oladele Ogunsola and made available to the public, the Olubadan spoke through the Ekerin Olubadan, High Chief Hamidu Ajibade.
The ADP candidate accompanied by the party’s chieftains had come to seek the royal blessing ahead of the rescheduled governoship and state House of Assembly elections.
The Director-General of the ADP Campaign Organisation, Comrade Olaolu Oni, among others was also on hand to partake in the blessings that accrued from the traditional ruler.
Recall the Independent National Electoral Commission has postponed the election which was initially scheduled for March 11 to now hold on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Noting that only one person would emerge as winner at the polls, he urged the candidadtes to maintain peace before, during and after the elections.
The Olubadan said,“None of you candidates aspiring to lead the state presently is a push-over in terms of manifesto packaging and delivery. The state needs you all, but talking realistically, only one of you would be elected.”
“Thus, if we allow love and brotherliness to guide and guard our utterances and actions during the campaigns, coming together, both as elected and opposition, to work together on how to move the state forward would not be difficult and our people would be better for it.”
“That is my charge and that is what I think is the best for our darling state.”
“I am very happy and proud that our state is blessed with people of vision and focus, highly cerebral and cosmopolitan in outlook and this makes our state very lucky, in that whoever emerges after the election surely has something to offer.”
“But, it would be an icing on our cake if all of you think of the greatness of the state by ensuring that the gate of friendship post-election is not shut through bitterness and acrimonious campaigns,” Oba Balogun added.
The ADP governorship candidate who had earlier said he had never wanted to go into politics but succumbed to pressure this term due to the realization of contributing his quota in building Oyo State.
“We can do better than what we are seeing presently. Why should we be building motor parks when we have classrooms that are not conducive for effective and efficient learning?”
“Why, in this age should we be powering street light with power generators when solar power is the in-thing across the globe?,” Yusuf, a retired banking guru asked?”
The ADP hopeful said the three critical segments he noticed need attention in the society comprised the aged, women and the youths and his administration would give the desired attention if elected.
“While the aged, among whom are the traditional rulers, represent our past and from whom we gather wisdom, women are the pillar of any society because it is through them that humanity expands, while the youths represent the future we look unto,” he added.