…accuse Kingmakers of being bais, taking bribe
…describe Kingmakers’ defence baseless
…threaten legal action
Again, Ajase-Ipo Youth Forum has alleged the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi of conniving with kingmakers to impose Ismail Bolaji on the people of Ajase-Ipo in defiance of the tradition of the community, adding that Mr. Alabi is usurping the Governor’s power by acting beyond his constitutional role using state apparatus to oppress other eligible aspirants for the position.
“…the candidate being backed and preferred by the Kingmakers have the long history of bribing the kingmakers ever before the death of the immediate past Olupo of Ajase-Ipo. The late Olupo had accused both the kingmakers and the aforementioned Ismail Bolaji Mohammed Atoloye of planning to cut-short his life because of the large-scale bribery of the kingmakers by the said Ismail Bolaji at a point when nothing was at stake. In fact, the death of the immediate Olupo was reasonably believed in some quarters of the Ajase-Ipo community not to be natural going by the events that immediately preceded the death of the Olupo,” the youth said in a statement signed by its coordinator, Olawale Kabir and sent to THE INFORMANT247 on Friday.
Speaking on the visit to the Deputy Governor which the kingmaker said it was solely to keep him abreast of the process after nominating a candidate, the forum said, “Further on the incessant visits of the Kingmakers to the Deputy Governor, we want to say that the defence of the Kingmakers is not only insincere but illogical. It will be noted that the undenied visit of the kingmakers to the Deputy Governor on the 19th of April 2021 was not the first of its kind. Series of meetings have been held in the past by the kingmakers with the Deputy Governor at the behest of Ismail Bolaji. One of such meeting was held on Sunday the 11th day of April 2021 after the kingmakers attended a Fidau Prayer at Agaka. The Kingmakers proceeded from the prayer to a meeting with the Deputy Governor where several plans were held on how to bypass the Governor and other relevant stakeholders in order to favour their candidate- Ismail Bolaji.
“All the meetings being held by the Kingmakers are always strategic in their plans of foisting Ismail Bolaji on the Ajase-Ipo Community in defiance of the tradition of the community. The Kingmakers intentionally avoided meeting the Governor because of the usual unbiased attitudinal disposition of the Governors to issues particularly sensitive issues such as the appointment of traditional rulers as this one. It is important to point out that the Deputy Governor is acting beyond his constitutional power by using the state apparatus to oppress other eligible aspirants for the position. This is against the oath of office taken by the Deputy Governor and even against the letter and spirit of the constitution which recognise the Governor as the head of the State and whose deputy can only act upon his instruction. It will be pertinent to ask at this stage that on what authority is the Deputy Governor acting when he was having the bellicose meeting with the Kingmakers.”
They furthered, “We also want to call the attention of the public to the fact that by culture, tradition and administration, the Olomu of Omu-aran acts in the absence of the Olupo as the Chairman Traditional Council of the Local Government. The Olomu had directed the kingmakers not to make nonsense of the procedure for the appointment of the traditional ruler by nominating a single candidate to the Governor; rather they should ensure that a large number of candidates were picked from among the over twenty aspirants that are contesting, this directive was further buttressed by the olomu when he directed the Olori-Omo-Oba, (Alh) Chief MemuduArogbola to nominate a candidate each from all the qualified ruling houses. The said Alhaji Arogbola carried out the directives but the list was rejected by the kingmakers because of their narcissistic disposition.
“Another interesting angle to the dangerous plans of the kingmakers to bastardise the custom of the Ajase-Ipo Community is the appointment of one Barr. Ayansola Mohammed (aka Efura) to chair the screening committee of the aspirants. Worrisomely, Barr. Ayansola who is an avowed enemy of the present government is not from Ajase-Ipo Community, and he was deliberately selected because of his background as a staunch supporter of Mohammed Bolaji. This is nothing but a dangerous precedent and an attempt to instigate the people of Ajase-Ipo against the state government. Barr. Ayansola has been using every avenue to blackmail, discredit and de-market the current administration in favour of his paymaster has vowed to also use this process to discredit the state government so as to make the current administration unpopular in his bid to win the community for his master.”
The youth added that the Kingmakers deliberately made the choice of Ismail Bolaji in order to deprive the Governor of making his choice from among the multitude that could have been submitted to him.
They added, “The process is taking a dangerous dimension so much so that some persons who are not from the community are bragging that they have bribed all the stakeholders with huge amount money such that not even the Governor can change their anointed candidate –Ismail Bolaji. One of such person is Elder Dele Oko, who hails from Oko town but is meddling into the internal affairs of our community. We are not too sure that this people will not constitute a security threat to our community if their anointed candidate is not eventually nominated. They have no stake in our community other than ensuring that their candidate emerge by hook or crook even if it means sacrificing the peace of the community.
“We are also saying it authoritatively that Ismail Bolaji has painted the frontage of the Baale house and had bought Mattress to the Baale house, because as dictated by the tradition, a new king will have to spend Fourteen days at the Baale’s House before moving to the palace, this is being done by Ismail Bolaji even when the customs and tradition is being grossly violated and no name has been announced.”
The Youth who asked the kingmakers to retrace their steps within seven days and ensure that the age-long customs and tradition of the community is respected and followed, threatened legal actions, stressing that all the names of qualified aspirants must be submitted to the appropriate authority.