AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Abidemi Oyetunji Olanipekun, has described the viral news in public domain against him as false and unfounded, saying that he never at any time compelled anybody or group of people in his domain to vote for a particular candidate or party in the coming elections.
Rather, he said that he preached the message of peace at a meeting held with representatives of non-indigenous communities in Osogboland.
Chief Ajadi Badmus, the Asiwaju of Osogboland, made this known in a statement made available to OyoReporters on Sunday.
Chief Badamus expressed the need to clarify what transpired at the meeting between the Ataoja and the group at the palace.
The statement read that “Upon an embarrassing allegation against HRM Oba Jimoh Abidemi Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye II, the Ataoja of Osogbo and the palace, as the Asiwaju of Osogboland, I deemed it imperative to ask/enquire from the Kabiyesi the authenticity of the APC press release on the meeting convened by His Royal Majesty.
“Oba Larooye, in his response, confirmed holding the meeting but expressed shock and indignation at the twisting of the agenda of the meeting he had with representatives of non-indigenous communities in Osogboland.
“According to the Ataoja, he convened the meeting in order to appeal to non-native residents of his domain to allow peaceful and rancourless elections before, during and after the general elections.
“The Ataoja said he neither thretened nor warned his guests on how to exercise their lawful and legitimate franchise during the coming elections but only preached messages of peaceful atmosphere in his domain.
“And, I want to believe that this action is one of the cardinal functions of the Ataoja and it is necessary in view of the daily scary news and reports of incidents that the public receive almost on daily basis.”
Stressing that the Ataoja is father to all political parties and their members, the statement read that “Based on the above, I wish to make it clear and assure all and sundary that the Ataoja did not and could not have issued threats or asked his guests to vote against their conscience nor vote for or against any political party.”
