The Olubaka of Oka-Akoko, Oba Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, and the Chief Imam of the community have reportedly rejected Eid-el-Kabir gifts allegedly sent by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, amid the ongoing political tension in Akoko South East/South West Federal Constituency of Ondo State.
Sources within the palace disclosed that the minister’s representatives arrived in the community with rams, cows and bags of rice as part of festive distributions ahead of the Ileya celebration.
However, the gifts were allegedly turned down by the traditional ruler and the Islamic cleric, who reportedly directed the emissaries to return the items to the minister.
A palace source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the decision was linked to dissatisfaction over the political situation surrounding the constituency’s primary election.
According to the source, the monarch and the cleric insisted that the alleged mandate of Bobagunwa Ategbole should be restored rather than offering what was described as seasonal palliatives.
“The message from the palace and the religious leadership was clear. They said the people’s mandate should not be traded for food items or festive gifts,” the source said.
The development is said to have generated reactions among political supporters and residents in the constituency, with some describing the action as a strong statement against alleged political interference in the area.
Efforts to get official reactions from the office of the Minister of Interior were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
0 Comments