Chairman of Ikale in Lagos Heritage Development Association, Otunba Sola Olatunji has condemned the recent attack on the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Abodi of Ikaleland, Oba Faduyile, by a social commentator, Omoba Jimi Adekanle Lijoka, describing it as the ranting of a sanctimonious element.
Canada-based Lijoka had taken to the social media to raise an alarm that Akeredolu was facing an imminent upset in Ondo South Zone in the upcoming election. He also claimed that Ikale people were poised to stop the governor’s second term ambition
“The people of Ikale land who form the majority 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,” Lijoka said.
In his reaction, Otunba Olatunji said he would not have dignified Lijoka, who he described as hireling, with a response but for the purpose of setting the record straight.and to assure him that his paymasters will be thoroughly beaten at the polls on October 10.
“Lijoka’s philosophy about the Ikale people is warped and far from the aggregate opinion of the people,” Olatunji said. “We are on ground and we can confirm that the entire Ikale people are poised to vote enmasse for Arakunrin Akeredolu in the October 10 gubernatorial election.”
The maritime expert urged the Ikales to wave Lijoka’s alarm aside and troop out in their numbers on September 28 for the mega rally organized by the All Progressive Congress in Okitipupa, headquarters of the local government where the Ikale in Lagos Heritage Development Association will fully participate.
Otunba Olatunji reiterated that the relationship between the Abodi of Ikaleland and Governor Akeredolu is absolutely cordial stressing that the Director of Organisation of the Aketi/Ayeditiwa campaign in the state is the son of the paramount ruler, Dr Francis Faduyile.
“Lijoka can’t cry louder than the bereaved,” Olatunji said adding: “The Abodi of Ikaleland as a father to all Ikales could not have loved Lijoka more than his son who is actively involved in the come-back bid of Arakunrin Akeredolu.”