The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ekiti State,
Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose has chided the All Progressives Congress (APC) National
Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for saying that “the good Obas’ in Yorubaland, who are
forthright, firm and stand by the truth are not up to five, they are just three.
Fayose, who described Tinubu’s statement as an insult on the entire Traditional
Institution in Yorubaland, added that; “Only someone without history and
integrity will open his mouth to castigate our Obas, who are the custodians of
Yoruba culture and tradition.”
In a release issued on Saturday, and signed by the Director General, Ayo
Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, the PDP candidate
maintained that “traditional rulers in Ekiti State are not useless, and we take serious
exception to any individual or group rubbishing our revered Obas.”
He commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade for rising in defence of
Yoruba Obas against Tinubu’s insults, urging other notable traditional rulers to
also “rise up and defend the Yorubas traditional institution, which is being
ridiculed by Tinubu and his APC.”
While eulogising the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during his
80th birthday, Tinubu had said the Awujale was not part of the useless Obas in
Yorubaland, who are sell-outs, we know them, and it is not yet time to
mention names, adding that “The good Obas’ in Yorubaland, who are forthright, firm
and stand by the truth are not up to five, they are just three. Oba Awujale, Oba
Akiolu and another.”
However the PDP governorship candidate, in his reaction said the
implication of Tinubu’s statement was that “It is either all Obas inEkiti State are not
forthright, firm and honest or there is just one of them that is
forthright, since he (Tinubu) had already mentioned two Obas among the three that he
believed are forthright in Yorubaland. Fayose also saw Tinubu’s comment as a calculated attempt to cause disunity
among our revered royal fathers by playing certain obas against others.
The PDP candidate said all true sons and daughters of Oduduwa must rise
against any attempt by the politicians to sow discord among the traditional rulers
through careless and unguided talks.
“We are also not unmindful of the refusal of the APC government in Ekiti
State to pay palace staff and denial to our Obas the five percent share in the
Excess Crude Oil Proceeds.
“Tinubu’s statement is therefore a continuation of the APC’s contempt for our
traditional institution, and we condemn this insult on our revered
traditional rulers in Ekiti State in its entirety.
“We also demand an apology from Tinubu and his party, APC.”