Barely two weeks to the crucial governorship election in Ondo State, it is payback time for the helmsman in the state, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, who is facing a major upset in the highly populous South Senatorial Zone, capable of scuttling his 2nd term ambition.
Akeredolu
The people of Ikale land who form the majority dominant group in the zone, have vowed to work against the aspiration of the Governor, who sometimes last year hurled out grave insults on their monarch, Oba G.B. Faduyile, the Abodi and Paramount ruler of Ikale land,
The audio and video versions of the Governor's altercation with the monarch is currently trending on social media and it is being used as an adversarial campaign tool to voice their intention to use their massive votes to stop Akeredolu's dream.
In the video, the Governor was seen using uncouth language against the person of the monarch, blasting him and threatening to use the force of government to level down a whole town in Ikale land.
Gov Akeredolu and the Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba Faduyile
Akeredolu even went extra mile telling the monarch he does not need the votes of Ikale people to get reelected as Governor.
The occasion was a fallout of the controversy generated by the Supreme Court ruling that conferred control and ownership of the whole stretch of land housing the Araromi-Obu Rubber Plantation in Ago-Alaye to Ikale land.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Abodi, Oba Faduyile had led prominent chiefs of Ikale land including the Jagunmolu, General Olu Bajowa, in a move to take over the area, when suddenly the Araromi-Obu monarch, Oba Adelola, rallied members of his own community in resistance.
Social commentator, Omoba Jimi Adekanle Lijoka
This controversy led to a mayhem in which some deaths and fatal injuries were recorded.
In a reactionary move, Akeredolu, who was seen to have taken sides on the matter, had stormed the palace of Oba Faduyile, threatening to unleash government force against the Ikale peoples move to exert control over the money-spinning rubber plantation.
To Akeredolu, the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement would be difficult since, according to him, the whole rubber estate has already been compulsorily acquired by the state government.
Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba G.B. Faduyile
Coming as a memorial and reminder in the build up to the forthcoming election, a Canada-based social commentator, Omoba Jimi Adekanle Lijoka, popularly called JAF, is the one leading the campaign against the Governor on social media with the audio and video clips, and articulating the views of Ikale people.
In the video, Akeredolu was seen visibly enraged as he told the monarch pointblank that he does not need the votes of Ikale people to secure a re-election.
The Governor had stated:: "I have come to ask you, Kabiyesi, to warn you as the monarch in authority here and Ikale people in general, any repeat of this clash will be very devastating.
"I came here to serve the people. I have no fear of anybody. If you and your people won't reelect me as Governor, there's no big deal.
"I say it without fear that you people are playing with fire. You are underrating the power of government. I assure you that if care is not taken, I am going to level down the whole of Ago Alaye community. We have the power to do it. Don't vote for me, if you like".
This utterance of Akeredolu is what is now causing a major upset and may likely go a long way to determine where the direction of votes of Ikale people lies.
According to the voter registration data already released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Ondo state governorship election, the total registered voters population is 1,643,350.
Out of this, Ondo Central has the largest voting strength of 669,648, followed closely by Ondo South, with a voting strength of 530,146 and Ondo North's registered voting strength of 443,556.
Content created and supplied by: Defender67 (via Opera News )
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