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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A member of the House of Representatives representing Atiba/Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency and one of the sons of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, Hon Akeem Adeyemi, aka Skimeh, has disclosed that the last wish of the monarch was to see the next President of Nigeria as a Yoruba man.
Recall that Oba Adeyemi joined his ancestors on April 22, 2022.
Speaking on the monarch’s last wish, Skimeh, in an interview with The PUNCH, said Oba Adeyemi was particular about the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu becoming the President of Nigeria.
“His last wish was to see the next President of Nigeria as a Yoruba man and not just any Yoruba man; he was particular about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu being President. He saw Asiwaju as a discoverer of talents, someone who’ll lay the foundation to build on, someone who will not only demonstrate good governance and put Nigeria on the path of progress and development but also as someone who knows that there’s no success without a good successor. He said, “Prince, the reason why I want that man(Tinubu) is that it’s not about his term as President. Asiwaju will let you know that as good as you might rate his tenure, there’s no success without a good successor. He’ll ensure after he might have completed his tenure, that he gives you a good successor. You can imagine what will become of Nigeria in that kind of situation.” Thankfully, that wish has come to pass,” Skimeh said.
The federal lawmaker further said the late Oba Adeyemi was determined, and supportive of seeing another Yoruba man become the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“He threw his weight and everything into it. You won’t believe it but the last thing he said to me was, “Skimeh, bawo ni oro oga yin o?’’ He asked me how my boss’ ambition was progressing. He told me that Asiwaju Tinubu must become Nigeria’s President and I told him to rest, and that was the last thing we spoke about before he died. Even the last politician that visited him before his death was Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (and) he gave his prayers and blessings to Aiwaju then instructed all of us, told the Oyos, told Yoruba land that Asiwaju should be fully backed. Kabiyesi visited more than 27 Obas in their palaces to talk about Asiwaju’s emergence as Nigeria’s next President. He met Akirun of blessed memory. He met Awujale. The last Oba that visited Kabiyesi before he died was Oluwo of Iwo, and the discussion was about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.