The Oke Ogun Patriots Front, O.O.P, a frontline political pressure group for the development of Oke Ogun, has frowned at the accusations made against the Governor of Oyo state, His Excellency Seyi Makinde, and 37 Oke Ogun Obas by a group known as ” Better Oyo Movement”.
The said group, in a statement published by an online news portal asserted that “Governor Seyi Makinde coerced Royal Fathers from Oke Ogun region to pay a courtesy call to the present Deputy Governor, Barrister Adebayo Abdulroheem Lawal, who replaced the impeached former Deputy Governor.”
Countering this claim, Engr. Ahmed Olabiyi, National Coordinator of the O.O.P stated in a press statement signed on behalf of the group, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, that the visit of the Royal Fathers from Oke Ogun to the newly sworn-in Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, was not planned, neither was it forced upon them by the Governor or anyone.
According to the O.O.P : ” For the avoidance of doubt, our royal fathers and indeed the people of Oke Ogun, unanimously welcomed the choice of Barrister Bayo Lawal, a man of very high pedigree, who knows and understands the concept of service and Loyalty”. They therefore stressed that the Obas’ visit was to honor a true son of Oke Ogun and to pledge their unwavering support for the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde
The O.P.P emphasized that the visit was a clear testament to the Obas’ approval of the choice of Barrister Bayo Lawal and to appreciate the governor for his love for the region by his choice of the man whom Oba Kahlid Olabisi, the Okere of Saki, described as the “Pride of Oke Ogun”.
The visit by the Monarchs, the group indicated further, was unprecedented in the history of the state and Oke Ogun region. They said it was the first time that all the Obas, including the three from the town of the impeached Deputy Governor, in one voice, came together under one roof, to pay a courtesy call to a Deputy Governor. Continuing, the O.O.P urged peddlers of false narratives to tell the world if the highly esteemed Obas offered a similar courtesy to the impeached Deputy Governor, at whose insidious behest the Better Oyo Movement were obviously putting out that press statement.
As even the staunchest enemies of the Seyi Makinde administration will testify, the governor is a man of honour who respects the rule of law. His achievements in Oke Ogun speaks for him. He would not arm-twist anyone to do his bidding, particularly our highly revered and respected monarchs from Oke Ogun.
The Oke Ogun Patriots described as “ridiculous and utterly disrespectful” the allegation against the Obas made by the Better Oyo Movement to the effect that the Obas were bribed with paltry sums which could not cater to their hotel expenses nor their transportation costs.
In closing, the OOP stated that the BOM intended to take a swipe at Governor Seyi Makinde via their press release. According to them ” We have little issues with that as the BOM were well within their rights to take sides with the opposition against the governor”. However, the OOP warned that they would not sit idly by and watch as the image of their royal fathers was sullied by the BOM or anyone for that matter.
They called on the gods of the land to punish anyone who, for political gains, acts in a way that will bring disrepute to the royal fathers.
