The Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, yesterday urged residents of Ede to vote massively for Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 governorship election, declaring that the town would produce enough votes to offset any deficit from other parts of the state.
The monarch made the remark during the commissioning of the 9-kilometre Akoda Baptist-Oke Gada Road project at Oja-Timi in Ede Township, on Tuesday where he also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the forthcoming election is free, fair and credible.
Oba Lawal said ‘We are using this opportunity to appeal to President Bola Tinubu not to rig the governorship election. He should leave us alone and allow each of us to vote where we desire.’
The monarch expressed confidence in Governor Adeleke’s re-election bid, saying ‘My people of Ede, this August 15 election, we must vote massively. We will use Ede’s vote to pay the deficit from other local government areas of Osun State. We are going to fill the ballot boxes to the brim for our party. God has strategically positioned us(Accord) on top of the ballot,’ he declared.
The monarch also recounted an encounter involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), at a social event in Offa, Kwara State.
According to him, he attended the wedding ceremony of the daughter of the Chief Imam of Offa, where Oyebamiji greeted him after being introduced by members of his entourage.
Oba Lawal, however, said he was displeased when some supporters of the APC candidate joined a musician in singing a song suggesting that ‘Ede’s light should be put out and Ikire’s light switched on.’
‘I was surprised when his followers joined the musician to sing that they should put out Ede’s light and put on that of Ikire. When I got home, I spoke to God to end their reign and God did that immediately,’ he said.
Oba Lawal also dismissed claims circulating in some quarters that he fled his palace when APC leaders visited Ede, describing the allegation as false.
He maintained that he led traditional rulers’ delegation to Ile-Ife on the day in question and challenged those behind the claim to explain why they expected him to welcome people associated with what he described as a derogatory chant against his town.
‘They are carrying a campaign of calumny that when they came to Ede, I ran from the palace, I have been expecting the day they would come and greet me so that I can ask them that I was in Offa when they say they should put off Ede’s light, what are they expecting from me, it is a curse!’
In the remark of Adeleke, said ‘With this dualised road, movement within Ede will be faster and safer; business along Akoda, Cottage, Oke Gada will grow; students and workers will get to school and work on time; night life and security will improve with solar lighting. This is part of our administration’s agenda of infrastructure renewal across all zones of Osun.’
Earlier, the Director of Highways, Engr Moruf Ojebode, gave the specifications, saying ‘The dual carriage was consist of two phase; awarded on November, 2023 for one year contract duration. Phase 1 is 5.4KM and second phase is 3.6KM.’