A body of traditional rulers consisting of over 130 monarchs and crown heads of towns and communities across the 18 council areas of Ondo State, yesterday, declared their support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, CFR, as the next governor of the state.
The group, made up of Grade B to E monarchs in Ondo State known as “D 130 Krowns Club”, are not members of the government recognised by state Council of Obas chaired by the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo.
The traditional rulers at the group meeting called “Pelupelu” hosted by the Onimeri of Imeri, Oba Agbadero Adeniran, in Ose Local Government Area, warmly received the billionaire politician into their mist, offering individual and joint prayers for the success of Ibrahim in the November 26, 2016 governorship election in the state.
Chairman of the traditional rulers, Aladeokun of Alade-Idanre, Oba Olusegun Akinbola, who spoke through the Owa-Ale of Ikare, reiterated the demands of the group for recognition and promotion into the state Council of Obas.
He explained that their denial gave birth to the formation of the pressure group to drive home their demands.
Oba Akinbola noted that the current constitution of the state Council of Obas gave room for preferential treatment, undue advantage, extensive domineering and paramount power to selected few traditional rulers who were recognised as permanent members of the Council of Obas, to the detriment of their colleagues on Grade B to E.
“We specifically resolved to have you as our special guest today at this meeting and present before you our prepared proposal and demands for your implementation after your victory in the coming election. Our prayer is for you to win the poll.
“Traditional rulers are not politicians, but we’re human beings too, seeking good government for our people and domains, our family and self; so it won’t be out of place to have a preferred candidate that we know will do our biddings and deliver the dividends of democracy to our domains,” the traditional ruler said.
Responding, the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Ibrahim commended the traditional rulers for coming out boldly to demand for their rightful place among traditional rulers in the state, stressing that monarchs play very vital role in the administration of government at the grassroots.
“My Kabiyesis, you will agree with me that before my invitation to this meeting, I have visited the palaces of some of you with the promise of setting aside five percent of the monthly Federal Allocation of the state as community development fund under your direct supervision, our fathers as owners of the communities.
“I also promise to return your lost dignity, traditional values of old and also pay due respect to the traditional institution and recognition to our crowned heads.
“We shall integrate you into the daily administration of our dear state with the ultimate purpose of bringing government down to the grassroots,” he said.
Some of the traditional rulers present at the meeting include Ahaba of Ajagba, Olu of Igbokoda, Oludotun of Iludotun-Ajowa, Owa-Ale of Ikare, Oloba of Oba-Akoko, Olute of Ute, Onidogun of Idogun, Oniju of Iju-Odo, Alagho of Odo-Nla, Ekiri of Ero, Ogbolu of Ita-Ogbolu and Akapinsa of Inpinsa.
Ibrahim’s campaign trail had earlier moved to the palace of Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adegooke Adeusi, where a large crowd of party supporters in the town welcomed the candidate with songs and dancing.
On the campaign trail of the gubernatorial candidate were: the deputy governorship candidate, Ebenezer Omotayo Alabi; state’s PDP Deputy Chairman, Kolawole Johnson; former deputy Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Dare Emiola; Hon. Abiye Ademoyegun; Executive Director, NICON Insurance, Otunba Stephen Ojo; Hon. Sola Akinuli; former state chairmen of Accord Party and Labour Party, Olusola Agbesua and Kolawole Johnson respectively.
Meanwhile, Ondo indigenes in Diaspora have thrown their weight behind Dr Ibrahim, saying his governance will usher in a new vista for the state’s development.
It was learnt that the Diaspora group under the aegis of Omo Oodua community has equally perfected strategy to storm the state to ensure that the project succeeds.
Utilising its structural network that cuts across the 19 northern states and Abuja, the group is presently mobilising its members to get their voters card ready ahead of the poll later this month.
National President of the Association, Chief Toye Ogunsuyi, who spoke with journalists in Jos, yesterday, after a crucial meeting with officials, said members of the group were prepared to play major role in determining who become the next governor of the state.
“Our vote is our power. That is why we are mobilising our people across the country and abroad, who have made up their mind to return home and vote for the right candidate,” he said.
According to him, his members have taken time to study all the candidates and their credentials and decided to back Ibrahim because his towering credentials make him the most qualified among them.
Decrying the plight of the people whom, he noted, had suffered untold hardship in the hands of past administrations, Chief Ogunsuyi, an indigene of Ondo, said what the state needed at this time is someone with business ideas like Ibrahim, who will turn the fortunes of the state for the benefit of the people.
He stressed that the world is changing and the people cannot afford to entrust their destiny in the hands of traditional politicians who had done litle or nothing to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
He noted that it was for this reason that Americans recently rejected the candidate of the Democratic Party in preference for Donald Trump, a businessman during the last elections.
He urged the people to team up with PDP and replicate what happened in the American election in Ondo State by voting for Ibrahim for prosperity of the people and development of the state.
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