From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, has said any politician who is genuinely interested in evolving an orderly and free polity for the country must be a patriot which is an irrevocable part of democratic systems globally.
Oba Adeyemi stated this on Monday in his palace while donating 20 motorcycles fixed with public address systems to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At a colourful occasion attended by hundreds of party members and residents, Alaafin stated that “there are two pillars upon which the modern nation-state is built which include authority and freedom”, adding that “freedom itself which is right of expression, dissent and debate is the guarantee of that plurality of view-pints which also
ensures that the country does not ossify, die or implode and
disintegrate through the stifling of the opposition.’’
According to him, “criticisms is an inherent part of Yoruba culture. Yoruba people consider criticisms as an avenue for contributing to development. The practice, aptly borne out by proverbs and sayings among the Yoruba, is to criticise your friend and ignore your enemy’’.
The paramount ruler asserted that “until we bring out the most edifying aspects of our intrinsic values of our different cultures, we will not be able to build a much better country by pooling together all the strong points of our ancestral heritage’’.
Alaafin explained that the motorcycles would go a long way in assisting the party reaching out to core rural areas for canvassing and mobilization.
Oba Adeyemi warned against any form of violence before, during and after the general elections even in the face of provocation, noting that under no circumstance should the party canvassers and mobilisers engage in untoward acts, such as mudslinging, derogatory and abusive songs.
Responding, an APC leader in Oyo Federal Constituency, Chief Samuel Akindele, described the Alaafin as a ’real royal democrat’ whose outpourings are not only full of philosophical merits, but make ample sense at this critical stage of democratic experience.
Akindele who commended the monarch for his gesture and unalloyed support for the party gave an assurance that the motorcycles would be properly used.
