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  • Senator Orji, Ikpeazu visit oil explosion sites, as monarch blames NNPC

    The senator representing Abia central senatorial district, Senator Theodore Orji has visited the two communities devastated by oil pipeline explosions in Abia State.

    So have the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu and his wife Nkechi.

    The two communities are Umuimo and Umuaduru in Osisioma council area of the state.

    Death toll of the explosions has risen to 150. Houses and economic crops were also destroyed in the resulting inferno.

    The senator, who was briefed by the traditional ruler of the area, HRH Eze Ikechukwu Chiavoilaefu, said the explosion had a devastating effect on the affected communities.

    Eze Chiavoilaefu said that over 150 people lost their lives, as 70 bodies were evacuated from Umuodara while 80 were taken to the mortuary by several ambulances from Umuimo, another site of the incident.

    The traditional ruler blamed the incident on the inability of the staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to respond to distress calls made to them when the people noticed leakages from their pipelines.

    He said that when the people noticed the leakages they made every effort to get the management of the NNPC to come and repair the damaged pipelines.

    “But to our chagrin they never showed up till the incident happened,” he said.

    Speaking with newsmen after inspecting the sites and visiting the survivors of the pipeline explosion, Senator Orji regretted the inability of the management of NNPC to do the needful on the pipeline which led to the ugly incident.

    Orji said, “If the management of NNPC had heeded the calls of the people from the area to come and repair the leaking pipeline, those who lost their lives and those who have been rendered homeless will not be in the situation they have found themselves now”.

    The senator warned that what happened should be a lesson to people who are living along or near oil pipelines, saying that they should be vigilant at all times and warn those in authority to come and repair their pipelines when there are leakages.

    Orji noted that there is hunger in the land which may have called for people to go for the easy money by trying to scoop petroleum products.

    “There is hunger in the land and even if you post a battalion of soldiers there they will not stop the people from coming to scoop petroleum products from the leaking pipeline.”

    He also blamed the security agents who were alleged by the people from the community to be collecting as much as N1000 from people to allow them to go and scoop the petroleum products from the leaking pipelines.

    The former governor of the state promised to raise the issue at the floor of the senate so that the federal government will come to the aid of the victims and their families, “as many of them have lost their homes, economic crops and means of livelihood”.

    The senator later donated cash to some of the victims currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Aba and Osisioma, while he also called for immediate supply of medics to the area to avoid outbreak of diseases.

    Earlier, the council chairman of Osisioma council area, Iheyinna Mgbeahuru also blamed the NNPC for the disaster, saying that when the leakages were noticed, “We called the management of NNPC severally for a meeting which they never responded to till today”.

    Mgbeahuru said that the oil pipeline leakages has affected their crops, farmlands and sources of water as all their boreholes have been affected to the extent that they have to buy water from outside their community to drink and do other domestic things.

    He thanked the former governor for showing concern over the plight of members of his senatorial district, “You not only came personally, but made efforts to visit all the sites and those affected which shows that our people mean a lot to you”.

    Governor Ikpeazu also came calling to see things for himself as he visited Umuaduru and Umuimo villages in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area after the pipeline explosion.

    The governor directed the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Chizurum Kanu to immediately inaugurate a commission of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the pipeline explosion that affected two communities and led to loss of lives.

    He also directed the Commissioner for Heath, Dr John Ahukannah and Chairman of Osisioma LGA, Mgbeahuru, to visit the surviving victims of the explosion at the various hospitals and ensure that government provided them with adequate medicare as well as pay their medical bills.

    Ikpeazu who cried during the visit described the incident as disheartening and unfortunate and commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the pipeline explosion and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The next person to call on the pipeline explosion sites was the wife of the governor, Mrs Ikpeazu who also visited victims of the inferno at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) in Aba.

    The wife of the governor shed tears while sympathising with the surviving victims at the teaching hospital

    Mrs. Ikpeazu paid for the treatment of the victims at the hospital and took time to pray for them and she also used the opportunity to pay for the treatment of a 10-year-old boy whose body was burnt by a high tension cable.

     

  • Monarch urges colleagues to improve communities

    THE Ojomu of Ajiranland in Eti-Osa, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye has admonished traditional rulers to play more active roles to improve their communities as it is part of the responsibility entrusted on them by their position.

    Describing his 25 years on the throne as years of success, progress and peaceful coexistence, he called on his fellow monarchs to show devotion to their responsibilities to bring about desired progress and values.

    Oba Akinloye gave the admonitions yesterday at a pre-anniversary press conference to kick-start the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of his coronation in his palace at Ajiranland, Eti Osa.

    According to him, “Our people have entrusted in us the responsibility to continuously seek ways of improving our communities; I believe if everyone can approach their responsibility with dedicated devotion, our communities will reflect more values and progress, and to drive these values education and guidance should take a prime position.”

    He stated that on assumption of the throne, he picked education, health care and infrastructure as three major sectors to focus on and “I have pursued these goals with my utmost vigour. With unflinching support and cooperation from the Oba Ojomu-in-council, highly progressive indigenes, residents and corporate bodies and especially the Lagos State government, Ajiranland has been transformed into a bustling and thriving commercial and residential area blessed with serene aquatic splendour.”

    He said his reign has witnessed phenomenal growth with the population rising from 2000 to 200,000 in January this year made up of many ethnic groups living peacefully amongst themselves.

    The Oba who started life as a teacher and rose to the post of principal and subsequently Executive Secretary Eti-Osa Local Government Education Authority from where he was installed as Ojomu of Ajiranland said the consequences of the progress in the past 25 years is challenges of high population and unemployment.

  • Tonye Cole needed to give leadership in Rivers, says monarch

    A former Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Theophilus Princewill, has stated that the co-founder of Sahara Group, Pastor Tonye Cole, is needed to give leadership in the Niger Delta state.

    Princewill, who is also the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, spoke yesterday in his palace at Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers state, while receiving Cole, the endorsed governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers for the 2019 election.

    Cole, in a long convoy of vehicles, with his teeming supporters and well-wishers who defied heavy rain, was earlier received by his kinsmen in Jack Compound in Abonnema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, with his people, led by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court,

    Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte, wishing him well, while stating that they were very proud of him.

    The APC’s governorship aspirant then proceeded to the palace of the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disrael Bob-Manuel, who along with members of his council of chiefs, happily received Cole, a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    Cole was accompanied by Rivers Chairman of APC, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree; ex-governorship candidate, Prince Tonye Princewill; a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dawari George; and ex-Rivers Commissioner for Women Affairs, Joeba West; among many other eminent personalities.

    King Princewill said: “I am interested in the unity of Kalabari people. We should give Tonye Cole the support that he needs to be governor. He deserves it. He has immensely contributed to the development of Rivers State and Nigeria. Just by the mention of Tonye Cole for governorship, the whole of Rivers State is vibrating.

    “Instead of having many governorship aspirants from Kalabari, we should unite, work as a team and support Tonye Cole. If we are not divided, we will succeed. I am happy that a Kalabari man is coming to give leadership to Rivers State.

    “I am pleading with Kalabari people to ensure 100 per cent support for Tonye Cole. Let our votes be for Tonye Cole. If that is done, we will win. United we stand, divided we fall. God being with us, we will achieve the purpose of having Tonye Cole as Rivers State governor in 2019.”

    In his remarks, the governorship aspirant said he was in Kalabari land for the blessings of the monarchs and his kinsmen, stressing that the task of providing quality leadership in Rivers could not be done as a divided house, but in unity.

    Cole also stated that courage was needed to face the governorship battle and have victory, while calling on Rivers people to hold themselves as one, thereby ensuring peace, security and prosperity.

  • How my nomination as monarch divided Anyim, Ajimobi, others —Osun monarch Oba Abolarin

    Youthful looking traditional ruler of Oke Ila Orangun Osun State, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, is a modern day monarch in every sense of the word. He had trained as a lawyer and built a career in the legal profession before he became the Personal Assistant on Political Affairs to former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim. Then he got a call from his kinsmen in Ila Orangun to return home and become their monarch. The self-confessed lover of R&B music told PAUL UKPABIO the events that culminated in his emergence as a royal father, why he has not given up on style and why he still teaches History and Government in secondary school even as a monarch.

    Could you recall where you were the day you learnt that you would become the next traditional ruler of Oke-Ila Orangun?

    I was in Abuja, working as the Personal Assistant on Political Affairs to the then Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim. The news came to me as a shock because it was the last thing on my mind. As a matter of fact, I never thought that such a thing could happen to me in this lifetime.

    But you knew all along that you are from a royal family?

    That is true. But it just didn’t come to mind. It is not something that I remembered or had in mind, especially for someone like me who was already set for leadership at the national level in the country.

    What were the first thoughts that came to your mind?

    They were difficult thoughts. I didn’t know where to start from because there were so many things that came to mind. The call was sudden.

    What was the immediate reaction of your immediate family?

    For a whole year, the reaction was not so pleasant because it was unexpected. I became hypertensive. There was unhappiness in my nuclear family and even my extended family. My mom too was not in tune with it until after a long time.

    But why so?

    We were not prepared for it. I had prepared for leadership and my family knew that, but not at the traditional level. But then, what will be, will be. Leadership at any level is sacrifice, tolerance and service.

    Did your family later have a change of mind?

    Yes, but that was after a long period time. And I must confess that it led to one or two negative things in the family, which I do not readily discuss. But it is all the sacrifice for being on the throne.

    What happened immediately you got the news?

    I had to move immediately. But it was a different experience entirely for my family. I never liked a dull environment. I had always been an active person in terms of activism and participation in national affairs. I did not go to school to become a monarch. I didn’t even wish it for myself. I rejected it in my heart, but again, the pressure started to mount. My predecessor had joined his ancestors and it was the turn of my family to present a candidate for the Orangun of Oke Ila. Eventually, I became the king.

    I was someone who was looking to serve at a different level, but here was another service that I was called upon to take on. What I have realised about life is that you don’t run away from service, despite the fact that I didn’t wish it for myself.

    Where did you grow up?

    I was born and bred in Ibadan. I had never spent seven days at a stretch in Oke-Ila before I became the king. It was a different kettle of fish when I got here as the king.

    So after a decade as the royal father, how would you describe the journey?

    I will actually be 12 years on the throne in December of this year. Like I said earlier, service is service. If you are ordained by God to actively shape people’s destinies, you should be happy. I thank God for the opportunity because I have found myself in a place where I change the attitude of a people, mould and re-direct their future, using the past to build a template for the future. It is a wonderful experience.

    But again, it is not all a bed of roses in terms of followership. It is difficult for people to change their erstwhile patterns of life. I have realised that it has to be gradual. Development itself is gradual. But all said and done, I am happy doing what I am doing.

    While you were working in Abuja, was becoming a full blown politician on your mind?

    Not really. I was not in politics. I was working as a professional lawyer. However, I was very close to the political class by virtue of my training as a political scientist, a scholar of International Relations and a lawyer who was interested in the development of the parliament. I was a lobbyist and a legislative attorney. I had the choice to mingle with the political class and the people who were interested in shaping the polity.

    Didn’t some of your friends think that going to Oke Ila to become the Oba would be a waste of your educational attainments?

    Yes, a lot of my friends in the political class thought so. The then Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, who was my boss, never liked the idea. The present Minister of National Planning too, did not like the idea. But in fairness, there were some other people who I also consulted in Abuja, who fell in love with it and said that service at any level is service. That it is not only when I stay in Abuja, New York, Toronto or Canada that I can be of service to the people. They said being at Oke-Ila would also be a service to the people. Some of the people who urged me on were Senator Ajimobi, the present Governor of Oyo state, the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University who later became a Senator and other well experienced scholars of the bible said it is important for people like me to be in leadership at the traditional level so that we can gradually re-construct the institution for the good of the people.

    After 12 years as a traditional ruler, what do you think of the traditional institution?

    I think it is a great institution to develop our people in social, political and economic areas. We are the grassroots people. A whole lot of us have left our people for too long in terms of provision of leadership. When I got here, I found that it is a place where I have to think of development from the bottom and not from the top.

    As one who has seen the world and had developed a cosmopolitan taste to comfortably resettle in Oke-Ila means that there must be something unique about the place. What is the unique thing about Oke-Ila?

    Man itself, the epicentre of development even in his rustic form, is an attraction here. And to change the mentality of the people is tough and challenging. But the Yoruba say that ibi t’o ba le la n b’omokunrin (it is in tough situations that you find the real man). It is challenging. But to the glory of God, we are here.

    You have always been a man of style. Has life in the palace affected your sense of style?

    I have been a lawyer. But even before becoming a lawyer, I did not joke with style and looking good. I’ve kept my style. I enjoy looking good, and as a Yoruba monarch, I have a sense of responsibility to look good and project the advancement of the Yoruba culture and tradition in terms of style.

    What vanities of life can you not be without even when you are in Oke Ila?

    (Laughs) There are two important things that I do not joke with. I don’t joke with my sunglasses; it’s a Rayban, and my Aramis cologne, not only in Oke Ila but every other place that I am. These are two things I got used to early in life.

    What part of the arts appeal to you?

    I listen to all sorts of good music. I like R & B. I love the kind of music that my children are producing these days; they all make sense to me. I don’t joke with my son Davido’s music. There is beauty in our culture and there’s greatness in our language. The rustic nature of our Oke-Ila is beautiful; it is the most beautiful place in the world. There is waterfall, lush greenery; the environment is beautiful and lovely to be tapped into as a lucrative tourist destination. It is very good for rural tourism. A lot of our children do not even know what cocoa pod is.

    We hear that you own a school and the students don’t pay school fees…

    None of the students in my school pays a dime. The school is totally free. I beg people, friends to assist in one way or another to send the children to school. At the last count, we had 94 rural indigent students. And to the Glory of God, in the coming school year when we will be having children in SS2, we are going to have 114 in the school. It is a boarding school. What we are doing at Abolarin College is our humble contribution to the society. I actually teach in the school. I teach them Government and History because I am conscious of the fact that we want to raise great leaders among the poor.

    It generally believed that a traditional ruler is entitled to as many wives. How have you managed to handle women who try to be your wife?

    The choice is mine as a king or royal. It is a fundamental right of each soul to practice and do what he wants to do. I am okay with my Olori (wife). With the 114 projected students that I will be looking after, there is no way I will be able to consider having multiple Oloris. I cannot afford it. Culture is not static; it is dynamic. I am thinking of the future. I want a glorious future for the children around me. I want Nigeria, through these children, to be the best place in the world. It is doable. All hands should be on deck. The fear of children school fees has made me not to seek more Oloris.

  • Monarch hails Euro Global for job creation

    The Olota of Ota in Ogun State, Oba (Prof) Adeyemi Abdukabir Obalanlege, has lauded the contributions of Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited for creating jobs for the teeming youths of Awori Kingdom.

    The monarch also said the company had been boosting the local economy of its host community.

    Oba Obalanlege, who spoke during a visit to the company’s corporate head office in Sango-Otta, also toured the premises of the distillery giant.

    The monarch expressed delight that Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited was operating within his kingdom, adding that the company did not only have the capacity to locally source for its raw materials but also capable of exporting such products in line with international standards.

    He said: “I am delighted that this is existing in this town. Ordinarily, walking around, you would not know that we have a fully automated factory like this with international standard producing products that are being exported to other countries right here.

    “They are sourcing their raw materials locally. This has helped in boosting the economic growth and activities, not only for the farmers but also for indigenes of this community.

    “This is the kind of factories that we are ready to support in this country. Then, being the Olota of Ota, I am assuring the Euro Global Group that I am always ready to assist them at all times. I also want to thank them for employing our youths. My prayer is that they should grow more so that they can employ more of our youths.”

    Oba Obalanlege congratulated the company for producing Seaking Schnapps, its flagship brand, sating it is one of the best brands of Schnapps consumed in the community.

    He said: “People presented Seaking Schnapps to me as a gift during my coronation, but I never knew it is being produced right here. So, coming here today and I saw it, I am happy that it is being made here. I must thank Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited for doing that.”

    The Chairman of Sona Group of Industries, Mr. Arjan Mirchandani, said Euro Global Foods and Distilleries Limited was ready to do more for the community.

    He said the company had about 4,000 workers and was hoping to employ additional 2,000 to boosts it workforce.

    According to him, the company will not only contribute to the economic growth of Awori Kingdom but will also ensure that it impacts the lives of the people through its Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) programmes.

    The highpoint of the monarch’s visit was the pouring of libation by High Chief Isiaka Idowu Balogun, “the Balogun of Ota Kingdom”.

     

  • Police detain monarch, four others for alleged kidnapping

    The police in Akwa Ibom State have detained the village head of Atibe in Afaha Eket, Eket Local Government Area, Chief Inam Unanaowo, and four others for alleged kidnapping.

    It was gathered that the village head, in league with other suspects, allegedly abducted some workers of an oil servicing company attached to ExxonMobil, a subsidiary of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN).

    The oil workers were said to be returning from Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, in an 18-seater bus to resume duty at Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) in Ibeno Local Government Area.

    The incident, according to sources, occurred on July 5 on Marina Road in Eket.

    It was learnt that following a tip-off, the suspects were reportedly apprehended the next day by security operatives.

    Upon interrogation by the police, the suspects were said to have fingered the monarch.

    “The suspects abducted the oil workers and took them to their hideout. They also demanded a ransom. But unknown to them, the workers had put a call to the police.

    “The bus was coming from Port Harcourt to QIT for a crew change of duty offshore when the suspected kidnappers ambushed them on Marina Road.

    “The suspects ambushed them and took them to Atibe village square, where they were blindfolded with sack bags,” a source said.

    One of the suspects was reportedly caught with a pistol, while another allegedly maltreated a victim to death.

    Police spokesman Odiko MacDon, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said four of the suspects, including the village head, had been arrested and would soon be charged to court.

    He said the police would ensure that perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to justice.

     

  • Monarch urges exploration, development of local potentials 

    The Edigbon of Edemosi, Oba Adeniyi Olaniyan, has called on governments and private investors to access available resources in communities for the growth and  development of the economy.

    The monarch said it was lamentable that the nation was still grappling with infrastructural and financial deficits despite the abundant wealth deposit in the land.

    Olaniyan said resources and potentials were untapped or underutilised.

    He said: “For instance, Edemosi my domain under Ila Local Government Area of Osun State has vast expanse of land for planting both upland and lowland rice. Presently, farmers from Kano and Taraba states come to my domain to cultivate hundreds of hectares of land and move it up north immediately after harvesting for processing.”

    He went on:  “We have a situation in which vast expanse of land that is suitable for rice cultivation in the community is still left fallow while the country ironically depends on importation of rice. This kind of situation is wrong and we should make efforts to discourage such.

    “Government and private  companies can support the local farmers by giving them implements, improved seedlings and chemical to boost rice production while rice processing plant can also be set up here.

    “In proper context, the intervention Ministry of Agriculture, either at the state or federal level, in assessing and cultivating the land in our locality can go a long way in improving local rice production especially in view of government’s stance against smuggling of foreign rice into the country.

    “In addition, involvement of Ministry of Agriculture in the cultivation of the staple food can attract private investors that could in turn engage in processing of the rice when harvested and this will have multiplier effect creating job for the youths in the immediate environment.”

  • Mob kill monarch in Enugu

    A traditional ruler of an Enugu community, Ogbosinne Autonomous Community, in Nkanu West Local Government Area have been allegedly killed by his subjects.

    The royal father’s name was given as Igwe Stephen Nwatu.

    A source close to the community disclosed that the traditional ruler met his untimely death in the hands of his subjects when he allegedly wanted to prevent them from attending a scheduled meeting with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on Monday afternoon.

    In the ensued fracas, the Monarch was alleged to have ordered his driver to overrun his subjects but the driver refused to yield to his orders.

    The driver was said to have mistakenly knocked down one elderly man with his car and broke his legs when he attempted to reverse.

    This angered members of the community who have formed a mob mobilized to carry out the deed.

    No fewer than 200 people allegedly descended on the royal father and gave him the beating of his life.

    He was later rushed to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, (ESUTH) Parklane, where he died.

    Confirming the development the chairman of the council area, Henry Okenwa said : “I was informed about the incident on Monday afternoon and I rushed to the Parklane Hospital where I met him unconscious. He was later revived and he spoke with me. So, I left the hospital to allow him get more stabilised.

    “Regrettably, around 1 a.m. I received another call that the traditional ruler has passed on. I equally rushed back to the hospital were I found it to be true. We made efforts to deposit him to the mortuary.

    “Since Monday night police have been battling to ensure that there was peace. The burning of houses might have started after the police left the community and I have briefed the governor. As we speak, I am with the commissioner of police discussing the situation”, he said.

    Contacted, the spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, Superintendent Ebere Amaraizu also confirmed the incident but no arrest has been made.

    He said: “‎The command through the operatives of the state criminal intelligence and investigations department have commenced a full scale investigations into the incident with a view to finding out the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as those involved amongst other things.”

  • Alleged Corruption: Ekiti community urges Fayose to remove Monarch

    Spokesman: It’s not true

     

    The residents of Iyemero Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Areas Monday staged a public protest against their monarch, the Olu, Oba Ebenezer Agboola Ogungbemi .

    The residents including traditional chiefs, youths and women began their protest with solidarity songs and marched to the headquarters of local council area.

    The protesters accused Oba Ogungbemi of misappropriating money meant for the payment of monthly stipends of traditional chiefs and illegal sale of land in the community.

    President of the town’s Union, Fatoyinbo Idowu said the monarch ascended the throne through questionable means as he that the monarch was not entitled to Iyemero kingship.

    He also accused the monarch of unilaterally withholding the stipends due to the traditional chiefs of the town in the last ten years.

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    The protesters who had earlier met the council of Obas in Ikole local government threatened to petition the monarch by calling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should the monarch jettison the appeal of well-meaning sons and daughters of Iyemero Ekiti.

    Also, two youth leaders of the town, Odeleye Adeleye accused the monarch of shortchanging the town.

    Another youth leader, Francis Olayinka urged Governor Ayo Fayose to remove the Olu for allegedly desecrating the throne.

    In a swift reaction, the spokesperson to the monarch, Prince Michael Ogungbemi said the protest is the handiwork of some disgruntled individuals in the community.

    He said the monarch is not selling lands in the community and community chiefs have been collecting stipends from the monarch.

    The prince urged the subjects to cooperate with the monarch and should not allow themselves to be used to cause chaos in their hometown.

    The lingering crisis rocking the town over the removal of the traditional ruler of the town began about two years ago, and every attempt made to settle the feud has not yielded a positive result.

  • Monarch backs Ambode for second term

    The traditional ruler of Araromi-Ibeju in Ibeju/Lekki Local Government of Lagos State, High Chief Lukuman Olayemi Arowolo Adebambo, Gbadewolu Adegboro 1, has endorsed Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for second term.

    Adebambo, who spoke at the 5th anniversary of the Children’s Day in his community, held at Araromi Playing Ground, where he donated items to primary and secondary school pupils, said Ambode deserved to be re-elected because he had given Lagosians the dividends of democracy.

    He said it was obvious that transformation was ongoing in Lagos, adding that the citizens should re-elect the governor to enable him complete the projects and give them more democracy dividends.

    He said: “As the traditional ruler of Araromi-Ibeju, I implore my subjects to vote for Governor Ambode next year, to allow continuity of good programmes. I also advise other Lagosians to vote for him.

    “Besides the governor, Lagosians should vote for other candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress.”

    Chief Adebambo urged politicians to eschew bitterness and rancour, as the general election approaches.

    He said the interest of the nation should be their priority, adding that they should promote peace.

    “Without peace, our country cannot develop. This is why our politicians should not play politics of bitterness. They should implement programmes that will enhance the growth of the nation,” the monarch said.