PDP Blasts Osinbajo, Fayemi for Refusal to Pay Homage to Ekiti Obas

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, has berated Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for not paying homage to Ekiti monarchs during Tuesday’s mega rally of the party in the state.

The PDP particularly lambasted the APC bigwigs for allegedly shunning the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, saying: “It is obvious that APC as a party does not have respect for the traditional institution.”

The APC held its mega rally in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, which attracted the vice-president, 12 governors and other chieftains of the APC across the country.

The Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation (KOCO) said in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, on Wednesday that it was the height of disrespect for the traditional institution for Fayemi to have told Osinbajo that it was not necessary for him and other APC governors that came for his campaign to visit and pay homage to the traditional ruler of Ado Ekiti.

It said: “It is however not a surprise that Fayemi made his guests, especially the vice-president to shun the palace of Ewi of Ado Ekiti, because he cannot point to any major landmark achievement of his four years reign as governor. For four years, he promised to complete the amphi-theatre in the palace of Ewi, he never did.

“Therefore, there is no how he would have been comfortable in the palace of Kabiyesi, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti if he had visited with those who came to campaign for him.”

While reiterating the commitment of Governor Ayodele Fayose and the PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Olusola, to the promotion of the traditional institution in the state, the campaign organisation described as unacceptable, the disrespect of Oba Adejugbe by Fayemi and his APC leaders.

Debunking the allegation, Fayemi said with this kind of accusation coming from Olusola, and by extension Governor Ayodele Fayose, it is clear that PDP has run out of ideas to latch onto issues that does not add value to their campaign.

The Media Director, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Wole Olujobi,said the APC is focusing on issues of development and good life for Ekiti people among whom are the obas.

“Instead of convincing Ekiti people with his programme appeal, Olusola backed by Fayose is here distracting us on issue we had long initiated to establish contacts with the royalty across the state.

“It is on record that Dr Kayode Fayemi few days ago set up a high-powered delegation to visit the obas in their palaces and the delegation has almost completed its assignment. The plan is that by the time the delegation completes the first round of visits, Fayemi will take the last lap of visits before the election.

“This is Fayemi that bought brand new cars for all the traditional rulers, rehabilitated their palaces, increased their allowances, instituted a free health service called ‘Ilera Laafin’ for all the Obas and never allowed monarchs to stay in the sun for late hours waiting to receive him.

“Instead, Fayemi ensured that paying visits to the Obas in their palaces was more dignifying than asking them to stay in the sun like PDP government is wont to do,” Olujobi said.

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