The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade II, weekend revealed that he was prevailed upon to stop Senator Iyiola Omisore from realising his gubernatorial ambition in Osun State in 1999 and in 2003.
Sijuwade spoke at his palace Saturday while receiving President Goodluck Jonathan who paid him homage. Jonathan was in Osun State for the mega rally for Omisore; the People’s Democratic Party (PDP’s) flag bearer for the August 9 gubernatorial election in the state.
The Ooni, in his speech read by his son, Aderemi Sijuwade, said former Justice Minister, late Chief Bola Ige, prevailed on him to convince traditional rulers in the state to dump the Ife-born Omisore for Chief Bisi Akande who later became governor in 1999. The royal father said Omisore, who eventually became deputy to Akande, agreed with him and proclaimed that God’s time is the best.
Sijuwade said the late former minister of internal affairs, Chief Sunday Michael Afolabi, equally prevailed on him to ask Omisore to withdraw from the gubernatorial race for Oyinlola in 2003. The Ooni said he thinks that the predictions of the state’s late heroes were coming to fruition.
“Omisore told me that if anybody was to be considered for the position of governor of Osun, there was a good friend of his who he thought would perform creditably and he gave his name as Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who eventually became governor of our state. Now your Excellency, I think the predictions of our late heroes are coming to fruition, but we must all know that it’s only God that has the power to appoint even the president, governors, paramount rulers and people in eminent positions. But I know that God in His mercies would give His blessings to your visit and the requests of our people today”, he said.
DailyTrust
