The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, Olubode of Bode-Osi, Oba Nureni Abioye and other notable traditional rulers in Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Government Areas have given their consent to the re-election bid of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State.
The royal fathers said their decision was in recognition and reciprocation of the modest achievements that the Oyetola led Administration had recorded in the last three years.
This is even as Oyetola extended an olive branch to the aggrieved members of the party noting that the Osun All Progressives Congress, APC, is open to genuine reconciliation and return of the splinter group.
Oyetola made the statement while addressing his party’s loyalists who assembled at different locations, during the continuation of his strategic engagement tour to Iwo Federal Constituency after he paid an homage to the palaces of the traditional rulers in the Constituency.
The entire Federal Constituency was agog while the atmosphere appeared carnival-like as residents, majorly loyalists and sympathisers of the ruling party trooped out en masse to receive the Governor and his entourage to their domains with tumultuous cheers.
Some who couldn’t leave their homes were seen peeping from windows to catch a glimpse, welding brooms and chanting solidarity songs to demonstrate their love for the Governor and register their wide acceptance of his Administration.
The residents of Iwo in particular who were full of enthusiasms were seen lined up on the road sides with bunch of brooms from popular Odo-ori junction to Araro vis-a-vis Omosan’s area to Oja Oba and down to Oluwo’s palace to demonstrate their love to the Governor.
Speaking in his palace, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi said the entire Iwoland was resolute to return the Governor for a second term in office.
The revered monarch, who described the re-election bid of Governor Oyetola as non-negotiable said the Governor needs not to campaign in Iwo as they have resolved to mobilise massively for him before, during and after the next governorship election.
He said, “I want you to know that the coming governorship election is to pray for you. We are resolute to pray for you. It is God that made me to be here. I have the control over this town. It is God that made you to be Governor. To us, the forthcoming governorship election is a step preceding our collective agitations.
“I don’t know other places, but in Osun, Oyetola has been taking good care of us as traditional rulers and other citizens of the State.
“Any Iwo Indigene that wants his or her prayer to be answered should stay where good fortunes are. Anyone who does not want prosperity can go otherwise by not joining the prayer.
“I have not seen a governor that prioritises the welfare of the traditional monarchs and that of the civil servants like Governor Oyetola.
“Re-election of Oyetola is the way to go. This is the best choice we can make at this time if we truly love this town and by extension the entire Iwoland.
“You have done excellently well. We have seen your modest achievements spanning across sectors. You have been excellent in the payment of salaries and emoluments. We have felt your infrastructural intervention not only in Iwo but in the entire state.
“We loved you and cherished you beyond anything. We are not betrayers and we can’t betray you because we have made our position known several times that we are for you. We shall continue to pray for you and by the grace of God, you will emerge in the next governorship election”, the monarch said.
Similarly, the Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, assured the Governor of unflinching support and cooperation saying they are determined to ensure that he is re-elected.
Oba Agbaje who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers in Ayedire Local Government said they were ready to put the Governor’s ambition before God and deities.
He added: “I am very confident that your re-election bid is a done deal. You have made us proud and you deserved to be returned. It is not about politics, it is about good governance and purposeful leadership which your government has sustained.
“We have seen, we have felt and we have benefited immensely from your commitment to reposition and transform the State, and we are ready to support you to actualise your second term bid because this your first tenure has been people-oriented and masses-driven.
“Though many may be contesting same seat with you but by the grace of God, you will emerge and come out victoriously. We in our respective domains are solidly behind you. We will do everything within our power to seek the face of God for you because you are good to us.
“Like I said the other time when you visited us at the venue of our monthly meeting, that your coming to power is God’s project, I am assuring you today that the Ile-Ogbo and entire Ayedire Local Government are for you and your party, the All Progressives Congress”, said.
Similarly, speaking on behalf of the 16 traditional rulers of the 16 towns in Ola-Oluwa Local Government, Oluwo-Oke of Iwo-Oke, Oba Kadir Olatunde, assured the Governor of royal support saying they would do everything possible to reciprocate the good works his Administration has extended to them.
Oba Olatunde, who described Ola-Oluwa as one of the core progressive councils in the state, noted that the next election would be a walk over for the Governor.
While addressing the mammoth crowd of the party faithful at the three venues, Oyetola said the window of genuine reconciliation remains open for genuine members of the party.
He called on the party loyalists to get ready for the February 19 governorship primary of the party by holding firmly and taking the grip of their polling units, wards and councils.
“As our primary approaches, the time has come for us to be more united ever than before. Let us extend hands of fellowship to our members who have shown genuine resolve to return to the party.
“The window of reconciliation is still open to those who are members of the splinter group, to have a rethink and join the mainstream of the party structure. This is where the party is and this is where God resides. It is our belief that with God, success is ours. I am resolute to continue to make you proud”, Oyetola said.
