Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has lampooned Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesol and other All Progressives Congress (APC) governors in the South-West geo-political zone for distancing themselves from the burial service held in honour of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
Speaking to Punch in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Saturday, August 15, 2015, the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin said the governors disrepected the throne, as the Ooni is the foremost monarch in Yorubaland.
“It will be most unfortunate if they did not attend the Ooni’s burial because of politics. I believe they have other reasons,” Odumakin said.
He continued: “Not attending the burial is condemnable because the throne of the Ooni is the foremost in Yorubaland.
“If they carried politics into that, then their action is sacrilegious and a great disrespect to Oduduwa , who is the progenitor of the Yoruba race.”
Also joining voiceswith Odumakin was the former Deputy Governor of the State, Iyiola Omisore, who chided Aregbesola and other South West APC governors for staying away from the funeral, descibing their actions as unfortunate.
Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed, as expected defended the governors, saying the action was not deliberate.
Speaking to Punch via telephone, Mohammed said: “What we must first look at is: ‘what was the schedule of the governors.
“If the governors, probably, had their planned commitments elsewhere, they may have to honour such commitments. What I can assure you is that there is conspiracy of any sort.”
