Chukwudi Nweje
Oba Gbolahan Barudeen Timson, Jagunmolu III of Shomolu-Bariga, has said Lagos State needs leadership change.
He said rigging and electoral manipulations are the albatross of Nigeria’s democracy and economy and called on the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) and the Federal government to ensure that people’s vote count.
The monarch, who was speaking when the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimi Agbaje and his campaign team visited Bariga described Agbaje as “a victim of serial electoral manipulations.”
He urged religious leaders in the state to pray for him ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
“It is not as if JK did not win victory election before; his victory was diverted. Someone will win election and the result will be given to another person.
“In the 2015 election, my people trooped out to celebrate when they saw the result of the election favoured PDP. But suddenly, the results were changed. When election is conducted and another thing is announced, the country has problems.
“Before he died, Chief Obafemi Awolowo told us that many of us would not see true democracy in our life time. Now, it seems his words have proved prophetic,” Oba Timson said.
He also took a swipe at the anti-corruption stance of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration, which he said was full of contradictions.
“Alleged corrupt people are suddenly being declared clean upon switching allegiance and membership to the ruling party,” the Oba said.
He urged the government to address other areas of human development rather than focus on fighting corruption alone.
“Any government that makes the sole pillar of its existence on hunting for corrupt people will not achieve much. Anti-corruption will not provide food on the table,” he added.
Responding, Agbaje thanked the Oba for speaking from his heart, adding that his family and that of the traditional ruler have a history.
“No one has spoken from the heart like Kabiyesi has spoken today, and he has not spoken wrongly. We need people who will speak truth to power. This comes without any surprise because over the years, Kabiyesi has been the conscience of the society and those around him,” Agbaje said
He promised to restore the glory of public schools by upgrading them and making them the envy of private schools.
Agbaje also said he would introduce health insurance policy that would transfer the burden of hospital bills from the citizens to the government.