Ayodele Olalere
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji has narrated how some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State had, before the gubernatorial election, vowed to dethrone him if the party’s candidate, Governor Gboyega Oyetola had won.
During the visit of the governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to his palace , Oba Oyetunji revealed he was threatened to be chased from his palace by some undisclosed people from the ruling party who accused him of being partisan prior to the election.
According to him, the threat came after he reacted to the attack on some PDP members who came to receive their party’s candidate in his palace during the campaign but were attacked by some political thugs. It is recalled the monarch had placed curses on the people behind the attack.
The outburst of the royal father did not go down well with some people within the community, who accused him of partisanship and vowed to chase him out of the palace hoping their candidate would win which never happened.
Ataoja told Senator Adeleke and his supporters who thronged his palace that Adeleke’s victory was his saving grace as he could have been chased from the palace with a broom if Governor Oyetola had won.
““My sermon to my son, who is now my boss, is simple, may you be successful in the office. I am saying this openly so that people can hear. Let them know that my joy has come. Imagine them saying they will sweep me away with their brooms with cane from this palace?
“It is God that saved me. It is not only Ademola (Adeleke) that has been lucky, myself, is also lucky. Let them listen to me now, no one can chase me out with a cane. I congratulate all of us that God has given this new governor.
“May his reign be peaceful. After eight years in office, Ataoja will produce your successor. May you never stumble. You will serve first and second term, after that, the post can return to Osogbo,” Ataoja said in Yoruba language.
