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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Olugbon of Orile Igbon and Deputy Chairman, Oyo State Council ot Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Also, has said the administration of President Bola Tinubu cannot afford to fail in its quest to reposition the country.
Oba Alao spoke in Orile Igbon on Friday, after receiving the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, in his palace.
Pastor Adeboye was in the ancient town for the church’s popular evangelism programme, ‘Let’s go a Fishing,’ held at Olugbon High School.
Addressing newsmen after the cleric’s visit, Olugbon said if Tinubu’s administration should fail, it would be the end of Nigeria as a country.
His words: “I don’t pray for this present government to fail.But I can tell you if this present administration fail, then there will be no Nigeria again. I will say it clear and loud to anybody, if Tinubu’s administration fails, then there is no Nigeria. So, I will pray Tinubu administration must not fail. In fact, they must excel more than any other government we have had in the past.”
Oba Alao, who noted that he is not happy because Nigerians are suffering, urged President Bola Tinubu to move quickly to stem the tide.
“Majority of Nigerians are living in abject poverty today. We pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to move quickly and do something great to change this scenario,” he said.
According to the monarch, a lot is expected from Tinubu and Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, adding that the president must choose people with good character and fear of God to work with him.
“I pray Almighty God will not let them fail us. So, that’s my prayer.
“In Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu’s government, if I see that there is any error, I will expose the person. I’ve seen some weaknesses in the people he has appointed. When I see the president, I will share it with him. Nigerians will not tolerate any government with act of ineptitude anymore.I will tell them before they get to one year in office, they must do something. Let us put politics aside now and face governance,” he added.
Oba Alao reiterated his call for constitutional role for traditional rulers, saying the local governments across the country are no longer working.
He explained that giving constitutional roles to traditional rulers “will help the nation to grow and bring progress to the nation.”
“I’m using this opportunity to say let there be constitutional role for traditional rulers so that we all can move together.There are a lot of fantastic traditional rulers who are equipped academically, in fact, more than those whom we put there as local government chairmen. So, if they can put them; we have retired judges among ourselves, we have retired military officers, we have accountants. All professions, you will find them in the traditional institution.So, what are they doing? Is it because we are traditional rulers we should be redundant? So, let them give us constitutional role to play so that the nation can be healed. There is a lot of division all over the country. The crime rate is high because 80% of Nigerians are living in abject poverty. There is no middle class Nigerian anymore. It is either you are extremely poor or you are extremely rich. No rich Nigerian. Those who are rich, they are extremely rich and they are not even up to 2% of the entire population.The rest are poor. So, if there’s no middle class Nigerians economically, that means we have hyperinflation in the country. Please, I’m praying and I’ll continue to pray for our leaders. Let them put heads together, we need a constitutional role for traditional rulers,” he said.
Olugbon thanked Pastor Adeboye for the visit to his palace, describing it as a historic one. He said he has the assurance that “more blessing and plenty development will come to this town from today.”