Ronke Aramide
As Nigerians goes to the polls this year to elect their leaders, Olu of Lisa Kingdom, Oba Oladele Odugbemi has called on nigerians to elect leaders that have fear of God and respect views of the masses.
The monarch in his new year message, appealed to the electorates to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice who would bring the country out of the calamities facing the nation, urging them to avoid votes trading.
The monarch reminded Nigerians that, their destiny are in their hands as the general elections approaches, hence the need to shun any form of vote buying and selling as what the country needs are leaders that will rescue the nation from the present economy hardship facing the entire masses.
Oba Odugbemi,who is also the Grand Patron of NUJ in the South West, charged the government at all levels to address the issue of insecurity plaguing the nation as well as the hike in prices of food stuffs in the market coupled with skyrocket price of petroleum products that are making life unbearable to the people.
He advised the government to be proactive in their policies and programmes that would alleviate the sufferings of the masses by tackling the issue of insecurity and economy crisis being experienced by people.
The monarch called on politicians not to heat up the polity during campaigns but rather harp on their programmes and manifestos, urging them to shun campaign of calumny, blackmail, hatred, violence and thuggery as general elections approach.
The monarch equally called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain an unbiased umpire, be truly independent in the conduct of the general elections without taking brief or order from any quarter before, during and after the elections.
Oba Odugbemi admonished the media to perform its constitutional roles as spelt out in the constitution by reporting accurately and objectively before, during and after the elections. The traditional ruler also enjoined the media to play an unbias role by ensuring that the results of elections are reported accurately without any fear or favour, saying that anything short of accuracy of reportage on the part of the media may spell doom for the country.
The Olu of Lisa Kingdom urged the members of his community to continue to pray for the growth and development of Lisa community, saying that their prayers and commitment are needed at this trying period to safe the community and the country as a whole from total collapse, while assuring members of his community of continuous provision of developmental projects that will take Lisa town to the next level.
Oba Odugbemi therefore called on the state government to give attention to the rehabilitation or reconstruction of Ijoko- Oluke- Oyero- Lisa road axis begging for attention for over two decades.
“Year 2023 shall be a fruitful and peaceful one for all natives of Lisa in Nigeria and in the diaspora, Nigeria shall be great again,” the Kabiyesi said.
