The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, has denied the content of a letter purportedly authorised by him, which rejected the financial contribution of the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde in the planned renovation of the monarch’s palace vandalised by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest on October 10.
A letter allegedly signed by the monarch and address to Governor Seyi Makinde has been in circulation on social media since afternoon
in the letter, Soun appreciates Governor Makinde gesture to renovate the palace with N100 million but urge him to use N90million out of the money to empower youths in the state
The letter reads “Allow me to use this medium to express the appreciation of my people and myself for the kind gesture by Your Excellency in pledging the sum of One hundred million Naira (N100,000,000) for the cost of the repairs and renovation of the Palace from the damages of the attack and an immediate disbursement of the sum of Ten million Naira (N10,000,000).
“However, subsequent to your visit, and in a gesture truly representative of the good and peace-loving people of Ogbomoso, a coordinated community of Ogbomoso sons and daughters have also taken up the responsibility for the repairs and renovation of their Palace and the repair and renovation work has commenced.
“In consequence of this development, and the assessment done, there is no need to disburse the balance of the sum of Ninety million Naira (N90,000,000.00).
“May I reiterate my advice during your visit that avenues and opportunities to engage our teeming youth who are largely unemployed or underemployed be assiduously explored to keep them meaningfully engaged and not idle. I have no doubt in my mind that under your able leadership this will be done.
“With respect to the misguided ones who violated the sacred sanctity of Aafin Ogbomoso, as the father of all, they are forgiven for their mistake and misdeed in the knowledge that they have retraced their steps and mended their ways for the future and will no longer allow themselves to be misguided.
But Soun, who spoke with the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said that he did not authorise the said letter in circulation.
“If your boss sees any such letter, he should ignore it, because I didn’t ask anyone to write such a letter,” Adisa quoted the Soun as saying.
The governor’s media aide further said: “I’ve spoken to His Royal Majesty, the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, who totally denounced the said letter and its contents.
“The Soun said that he never authorised anyone to issue a letter on his behalf and that if any such letter surfaces, some persons must have forged his signature.
“The Soun said he wholeheartedly welcomes the intervention of Governor Seyi Makinde in the plan to fix the palace and all the damaged items
