Otunba Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju (OMO) who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the 2023 House of Assembly on Ondo West Constituency 1, has asked the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Candidate and lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Tomide Akinribido, to apologize to the Palace of the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom for allegedly demanding through his media office that a political debate should be held at the palace.
In a Press Statement Signed by Abimbola Sodiq Oyetunde, SA (Media and publicity) to Otunba Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju, and a copy made available to newsmen in Akure, OMO said such demand on social media space by the PDP Candidate amounts to dragging the ancestral throne of the monarch, hence the need for him to apologize.
The statement says, “DEBATE: Apologize To The Osemawe For Dragging His Ancestor’s Throne Into Politics – OCMT tells Hon. Tomide Akinribido. The attention of the Otunba Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju(OMO) campaign media team has been drawn to a political debate by the honourable representing the Ondo West constituency 1, in the Ondo State House of Assembly, who is also the PDP candidate in the March 11 state house of assembly election, Hon. Tomide Akinribido, through his campaign media team, said it must be held at the Palace of the Osemawe of Ondo for only the two leading candidates in the election.
“Recalled that on February 1, 2023, the umbrella body of Ondo youths, Ondo Ekimogun Youth Congress (OEYC) organised a debate for the candidates vying to represent the good people of Ondo West constituency 1, in the Ondo State House of Assembly in which our candidate, Otunba Moyinolorun Ogunwumiju(OMO) attended the debate and performed brilliantly well in convincingly selling his manifesto during the debate, which was attended by a representative of Yiaga Africa.
“The campaign media team of OMO see the call by the frustrated PDP house of assembly candidate, Hon. Tomide Akinribido, who is obviously on the verge of losing his re-election bid to our candidate for the use of the Palace of our revered Kabiyesi, Oba Dr Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo III, CFR, the Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, as a political debate ground is highly preposterous, uncalled for, and a move to desecrate the highly exalted throne in Yoruba Land.
“The other call by the outgoing MHA that jotter should not be allowed by the candidates is a sign that Hon. Tomide Akinribido is unexposed to a standard debate and he lacks adequate understanding of what candidates have access to during a debate.
“On this note, we hereby issue Hon. Tomide Akinribido and his campaign media team a 24hrs notice to immediately make a wide publication apology to our Kabiyesi, Oba Kiladejo for dragging his ancestor’s throne into a political debate ground and as well apologize to OEYC for calling them to organise such an unholy debate, after earlier organising a successful debate.
“We see this debate call at the Palace of the Osemawe by Hon. Tomide Akinribido as a disguise to invade the Palace with his agents of political violence to cause mayhem that will turn Ondo city into political unrest before the election.
“The Palace of Osemawa is a domain known for apolitical activities from the onset of the throne, and the Osemawe will vehemently defy any attempt or threats by Hon. Tomide Akinribido to turn his Palace into a political campaign ground that is alien to the ancient sphere,” OMO media office said.
