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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Traditional rulers of the Yoruba people from Ekiti, Lagos, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States met on Thursday, February 16, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The meeting was presided over by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife and Arole Oodua.
The traditional rulers, who granted the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, an audience, expressed satisfaction with the briefings he gave concerning his aspiration.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Director General of Conscience of Yoruba Nation, Abagun Kole Omololu, the royal fathers acknowledged Tinubu’s solid democratic credentials and unwavering commitment to the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
The monarchs, therefore, affirmed the preeminent qualification of Tinubu for the highest office in Nigeria.
They also affirmed their faith and support for Nigeria’s unity, peace, prosperity and progress and pledged to support the democratic process based on free choices according to universal adult suffrage freely exercised by the people.
The monarchs expressed concern about the recent hardship suffered by the people due to perennial fuel scarcity and the naira redesign policy.
They urged “more humane handling of these challenges to free the people from high- handedness, poverty and want.”
The royal fathers also pledged their support for the success of the elections and urged the people to exercise their civic duties peacefully to engender a desired change in the country.
“To this end, the traditional rulers appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies and other institutions involved in the general elections to support and uphold the right of every Nigerian to freely cast their vote without let or hindrance to guarantee the sanctity of the electoral process,” the communique read.
The monarchs renewed their faith in the steady democratic growth of the country and reiterated their belief that equity and justice are prerequisites for unity, peace, progress and prosperity of Nigeria.
Present at the meeting were Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Orangun of Oke Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; Oniru of Iru Land, Oba Gbolahan Lawal; Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Oyewole; Ooye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Micheal Adedeji; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi; Arinjale of Ise Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Ajayi; Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis; Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyeniyi; Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo amonh others.