Date Published: 06/21/09

Oyinlola, Ooni of Ife pledge support for Bankole, FG reforms

The Governor of Osun State Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Onibuse II, has pledged continued support for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Hon.  Dimeji Bankole and the various reforms of the Federal Government in the areas of Constitutional Review, Electoral Reforms and resolution of the Niger Delta crisis.

Governor Oyinlola stated this at the weekend when the Speaker paid him a visit in his

Office in Oshogbo, Osun State.

Prince Oyinlola said the people of Osun State will continue to support Speaker Bankole as their own, describing him as “a beacon of light for Yoruba people and the entire nation”

Governor Oyinlola said Bankole should feel free to request for any assistance in tackling the challenges facing him in the running of the House or other national assignments he may be call upon to address, adding that his success so far is a thing of joy for the Yoruba people and the nation at large.

Earlier Speaker Bankole expressed appreciation to Governor Oyinlola for his support and wisdom he has readily offer to him in the running of the House. These, he said, have been invaluable in maintenance of stability in the House.

In a similar visit to Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade urged all sons and daughter of Yoruba to support Speaker Bankole and the leadership of the National Assembly in their quest to give quality legislation to the country.

The foremost Yoruba monarch who stated this in his palace in Ile- Ife also got all his chiefs and other traditional rulers in Osun State to pray for the Speaker’s success in his present position..

The Ooni, who described Hon. Bankole as the Yoruba highest officeholder, said from the pedigree of Bankole as a true Yoruba son he is sure he will do the race proud.

 “There is no way that Bankole can fail. His family has not been identified with failure and he can never fail”, he added.

Oba Sijuade further urged every Yoruba to be united and to continue to pray for the Speaker as he works to surmount challenges facing the race at the federal level.

“The problem of Yoruba is not caused by the Hausas, Igbos or any other tribe but by Yoruba themselves. If the estimated 240 million Yorubas all over the world can unite with those in Nigeria as base much can be achieved. It is a thing of shame that Yoruba culture and norms is more appreciated outside Nigeria than here” he stated.

He assured Bankole of the constant prayer of all traditional rulers of Yoruba lineage in his activity to better the lots of Nigeria, adding that he is pledging the support of all royal fathers as the direct source of Yoruba race for Bankole and the present reform programmes of President Umaru Yar’Adua in the areas of Constitutional Review, Electoral Reforms and resolution of the Niger Delta crisis.

Speaking earlier Bankole has stated that traditional rulers have been a source of stability in the national affairs adding that this useful role is often taken for granted or questioned by people with questionable background and selfish interest.

“Nigeria is going through a period of change and challenges. The process for Constitutional Review is on. We have the Electoral Reform Bills from the Executive before us and there is the crisis in the Niger Delta. We need your prayers, ideas, support and inputs in all these areas” Bankole requested.