By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has urged residents of the State to thoroughly scrutinise all candidates seeking to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun in the 2027 governorship election, irrespective of their political parties.
The monarch also called on civil society organisations and the media to investigate the backgrounds, credentials and antecedents of the candidates before the election.
Oba Akinyemi, who made the call while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of his house-warming ceremony at Obada-Oko area of Abeokuta, said the responsibility of choosing the next governor should not be left entirely to political parties, stressing that the electorate would ultimately bear the consequences of the choice made in 2027.
He said, “let me use this opportunity to tell the electorate, civil society organisations and the press that whoever is going to become the next Governor of Ogun State after Dapo Abiodun should be thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly, scrutinised.
“It is very important. We do not have another place to call our state.
“Whoever wants to take over from the governor, irrespective of the political party, should be subjected to thorough scrutiny. The media and civil society organisations should come together to investigate all the candidates thoroughly, including their family backgrounds. It is very, very important.”
The traditional ruler urged residents to ask critical questions about the individuals they intend to entrust with the leadership, governance and heritage of the state.
“Everyone who belongs to this state has to ask questions. We must question whoever we plan to entrust with our heritage and governance,” he said.
“This is no longer just about politics; it is about us and the critical stakeholders in the state. Everyone who belongs here must ensure that, if issues arise, we thoroughly understand the background and credentials of anyone who aspires to lead us.”
Speaking on the internal crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly the controversy surrounding the party’s primary election involving Senator Solomon Adeola and Hon. Abayomi Hunye, Oba Akinyemi urged the party leadership to intervene and resolve the matter amicably.
The monarch expressed concern over what he described as the continuing agitation and counter-agitation arising from the dispute.
“I have been following the trend of the news, including the agitation and counter-agitation. I think we have to implore the party to call them together and resolve whatever differences they may have,” he said.
He questioned the controversy surrounding the votes allegedly recorded for Hunye during the primary election.
“If Abayomi Hunye participated in the primaries, it is impossible for him to have scored zero votes because he would have at least voted for himself. So, who stole his vote?” he queried.
“Even if the majority voted for Yayi, Hunye would not have cast his own vote for Yayi. Where did that single vote go?”
According to him, the issue raises questions that require clarification, particularly regarding Hunye’s participation in the primary and the recording of his vote.
“The core question is: what happened to his vote, and why was it not recorded? Had it been properly recorded, we might not be in this situation today,” he said.
Oba Akinyemi advised the political actors involved to resolve their differences and avoid actions capable of unnecessarily heightening political tension, particularly on social media.
“My advice to them is simple: put your house in order and stop unnecessarily overheating the polity on the internet,” he said.
Speaking on the role of traditional rulers in politics, the monarch said traditional rulers must remain politically neutral while ensuring that the electorate carefully examines candidates before making its choice.
“As traditional rulers in the state and having been on the throne for 21 years myself, our role is two-fold. First, we must remain neutral. Second, we must critically scrutinise every candidate, one by one. We must ensure that we do not make the wrong choice,” he said.
“I implore all my fellow traditional rulers to exercise extreme care this time around and choose the right candidate.”
On the agitation by the Yewa people for the governorship of Ogun State, Oba Akinyemi acknowledged the argument that the people had suffered political marginalisation, but said the overriding consideration should be the ability of the prospective governor to provide good governance.
“Yes, the Yewa people are agitating for the governorship because we have been marginalised. That is an undeniable fact. However, our primary goal should remain securing a leader who will deliver good governance,” he said.
He noted that political marginalisation was not peculiar to any particular ethnic group or region, stressing that the ultimate objective should be to elect a leader capable of delivering meaningful development to the people.
“Regardless of background, my core focus is good governance. I want a leader who will deliver the dividends of democracy, prioritise basic education and empower our people. That is what is paramount to me. That is my prayer.”
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