By Samuel Ogidan
Traditional rulers in the South-west are spoiling for showdown with the All Progressives Congress (APC) over comments made by one of its leaders, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu had reportedly said recently that only three monarchs in Yoruba land were upright, describing others as “useless.”
He reportedly made the statement in Ijebu-Ode during a special prayer session held at the Central Mosque in the city to mark the 80th birthday of the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Ogbagba II.
Oba Sijuade, who spoke through High Chief Funmilola Olorunnisola, reaffirmed his earlier position that: “If any of our leaders wants to make a categorical statement on an important issue like the Oba in Yoruba land, he should please try to
check records to know exactly what each one of them has done, because there is so much blackmailing, and fortunately, the late Abacha’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) is alive and he is in a position to tell the world the Obas who were close associates of his late boss.
“When our country was upside down, it was the traditional rulers in this country that saved the situation. If we left the country as politicians did, there would have been no state for the leader of APC to rule when he came back.”
The Osi Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Lekan Balogun, also frowned upon the comment, describing it as “disappointing.”
He said: “How can Bola ever say such things about our traditional rulers? What else can an ignorant non-Yoruba politician say about our Obas? Instead of just abusing them, Bola should strive to identify one particular area where they have failed to identify with their people’s interests.
“What else can an Oba do in a modern political system when his “people’s interests” are divergent, and sometimes, in direct conflict? I am very disappointed with Bola.”
An APC chieftain, who expressed fear over the damage the comment would have on the party, said: “There are also reports that prominent traditional rulers played crucial roles in their respective domains a few days to Ekiti election; their grouse is that our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu insulted them when he visited the Awujale of Ijebuland to rejoice with him on his birthday.
“We have decided to set up a committee to visit our revered rulers so that they can halt the planned onslaught against our party.”
