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Blood oath mess: Count me out
– Awujale
By MOSHOOD ADEBAYO, Abeokuta
Thursday, July 2, 2009
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Governor
Gbenga Daniel.
Photo: The Sun Publishing |
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The paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, whose name
was mentioned by Hon. Wale Alausa as a key dramatis personnae in
the raging oath-taking mess in Ogun State, has exonerated himself
from the shameful act.
The monarch, whose name has also been dropped by Governor Gbenga
Daniel, as one of those who laboured to mediate in the face-off
between the executive and the legislative arm in the Gateway State
denied knowing anything about the oath, which fallout was the nude
publication of Hon. Alausa on Monday by a national daily.
Speaking through his Secretary, Mrs. Fisayo Akudu on Wednesday,
Awujale said: “It is all lies and in any event there is no
coherence and logic in his claim. It is all lies, I knew nothing
about blood oath taking; I was not involved. I am a well respected
Oba and my name should not be dragged into this.”
Meanwhile, palpable fears have gripped many political office holders
in Ogun State following revelation by the Speaker of the state House
of Assembly, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun and Hon. Alausa, that most of
them took oath at the instance of Governor Gbenga Daniel before
they secured their tickets for their different political offices.
The PDP office holders are afraid that their pictures might be published
in any newspaper because they were not sure that they were not photographed
when they were taking the oaths.
Both Egbetokun and Alausa at different press conferences in Lagos
and Abeokuta last Tuesday confessed that most of the serving political
office holders, as well as chairmen of local government councils
were under oaths with Governor Daniel.
Egbetokun, who addressed journalists at the Assembly’s Committee
Room, Abeokuta shortly after he returned from Lagos where Alausa
addressed similar conference, also stated that 80 percent of Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) in the state are spiritualists.
On his own, Alausa while giving an account of his nude photographs
published by the Compass Newspaper stated: “Long before then,
especially before the 2007 elections, shortly after the party primaries,
Otunba Gbenga Daniel had ensured that most, if not all, of those
seeking elective offices, including some serving members of the
National Assembly, took the oath of allegiance to him.”
Continuing, the son of Otun Balogun of Ijebuland, Chief Agboola
Alausa said: “You can ask your colleagues in the Ogun State
House of Assembly, if they are honest, they will also tell you that
there is no council chairman that did not take the oath before their
elections.”
Egbetokun said: “I took such an oath right in the governor’s
private residence in Sagamu in the presence of some former public
office holders in the state, but I was not naked.”
Describing Governor Daniel’s publication of Alausa’s
picture in his newspaper, (The Compass Newspaper) as a breach of
trust, confidence and loyalty, the speaker said the nude pictures
saga had not really brought any ridicule to the House.
His words: “We have not seen it as bringing ridicule to the
Assembly because the issue is more political than governance and
we are to legislate. We will investigate and take proper action.”
Meanwhile, concerned Ogun people, both within and outside, have
been speaking on the publication of the nude picture of Alausa as
not only ‘shameful but betrayal of trust’.
Those who spoke, which included serving political office holders
and politicians, wondered why such a thing made in absolute confidence
was made a public issue.
“It is very unfortunate. When the oath-taking saga first came
out, I did not believe it. But the confession of the lawmaker that
he actually took it at the instance of Governor Gbenga Daniel made
the whole thing worse.
“This people have brought shame, ridicule and even have succeeded
in smearing the good name of the state which our late illustrious
sons and daughters struggled to build.”
He also lamented the alleged involvement of some prominent traditional
rulers in the saga. “I cover my face as a chief from this
state. What do our traditional rulers want in politics? They have
lost their respect as our fathers who could be used and manipulated
by politicians at the slightest opportunity. This is a disgraceful
act.”
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