The traditional religion worshippers in Oyo State, known as ‘Oniseese’ have endorsed the 2023 presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The traditionalists across all the seven political divisions of the state threw their weight behind Tinubu on Saturday during a meeting they held at Ilaji Hotel and Sport Resort, Akanran, Ibadan.
The meeting, which was presided over by the Aare Oniseese of Oyo State, Olukunmi Egbelade, noted that the step become necessary for the electoral victory of the APC presidential candidate.
It would be recalled that representatives of Christian and Muslim communities in the state had within the past two weeks converged on the same venue, prayed and endorsed Tinubu for president.
The Aare Oniseese of Oyo State, Olukunmi Egbelade, in his address on the occasion, said the traditionalists prayed and endorsed Tinubu for peace, unity, progress and development of Yorubaland.
The Yoruba, according to him, would benefit a lot if their kinsman becomes the president, adding that it is the turn of the Yoruba to be at the helms of affairs of the nation.
Egbelade, however, urged Tinubu to declared a nationwide holiday for the traditional worshippers across the nation when he becomes the president of Nigeria.
In his remarks, Chief Kazeem Omotosho said there should not be any set back for the Yoruba in the forthcoming elections, adding that the strategic position that the Yoruba have been occupying in Nigerian politics could not be over-emphasised.
His words: “Some people believe we are not educated. They say we don’t know God. But we believe in God than them. Many of the pastors and the Islamic clerics passed through us.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort, Chief Dotun Sanusi, who was represented by Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, said the motive behind the event was to show love and support the APC presidential candidate, who is a leading candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
According to Akinade, Sanusi is neither a politicians, nor vying for any political position, saying he is just a businessman and a phillantropist, who has always been using his resources to cater for the need of the society.
“He is not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), nor APC. But he is passionate about whatever that will lead to the progress and development of Yorubaland.
“We have the problem of insecurity. We have the problem of unemployment. We have leadership problem and many more. President Muhammadu Buhari is concluding his administration. We cannot say he hasn’t done anything. He has done his best. In the next couple of months, we will do another election.
“The need for us to choose wisely brought us here today. I have researched the credentials of the major candidates and without being immodest, I like to tell you Asiwaju stands tall.”
Notable traditional worshipers in attendance included the Araba Awo of Ibadanland, Chief Odegbami Ifalere; the Head of Eleegun (Masquerades) in Ibadanland, Chief Oyeniyi Okugbaja; Iya Sango of the world, Chief Mrs Odeleye, and representative of Oluawo of Oyo, Adejare Ifadare.
