The Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, on Thursday, told President Goodluck Jonathan that no Yoruba king has a right to compel his people to vote for one candidate or the other.
He stated this while addressing the President who had gone to visit him at his Ijebu Ode palace as part of his re-election consultation.
Awujale, in his remarks, said his council is a mixture of politicians across all political parties, saying he had no powers to compel people to vote, as his people have a right to express their democratic rights.
He, however, advised the President to sell his manifesto to the people.
“In Ijebu here, it is not possible for any Oba, not even in Ijebu, in Yoruba land, to go out and say vote for this, vote for that. That person is looking for trouble.
“But give them the opportunity to present their programme so that people can make up their minds on what to do. I think this is a very sound democratic principle and that is what I have decided to do, to give you the opportunity of meeting with the people.”
“Everybody congregating here, they belong to different groups, they are PDP members, APC members, APGA, they belong to various interests, and when they come, they get to the gate, they shed their togas.”
“PDP will remove their PDP, APC will remove their own, APGA will remove their own, they are going to the palace to meet their ruler, their paramount ruler, to receive that important august visitor who is coming to their lands and give him all honour that is entitle to him,” Awujale explained.
The monarch also spoke against ‘stomach infrastructure’ noting that people should vote for only credible candidates.
“Each time I have cause, occasionally to talk to our people, I have always told them, in the churches and mosques that when you’re going to vote, make sure, you back your sons and daughters who will give something back to you, not the ‘Ojelus’.
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