By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun has called on opposition parties in the country to shun all forms of actions and utterances that could distract the administration being led by President Bola Tinubu from giving the country good governance.
He said the call became imperative following the conclusion of the litigations arising from the February 25th, 2023 Presidential election won by Tinubu at the Supreme Court last Thursday.
The Olubadan gave the charge in a felicitation message sent to President Tinubu and made public in a statement by his Personal Assistant (Media), Oladele Ogunsola on Sunday.
In the message, Oba Balogun saluted the tenacity of purpose and commitment displayed by both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively while the litigations lasted saying “with the Supreme Court verdict, the election has been won and lost and it is time to move on”.
The monarch recalled that “there’s a time for everything and the time we are in now is for governance and time to put politics aside. The condition of our dear country now calls for concerted efforts on the part of all, irrespective of political party, religious or ethnic persuasions. That’s what patriotism dictates.
“You have all fought a good fight and destiny has manifested concerning individuals concerned and this is time to see Nigeria as the ‘political party’ we all belong to and work towards winning all the battles being contested such as insecurity, unemployment, hunger, hyper inflation, infrastructural deficit and what have you.
“To Mr. President, I say hearty congratulations to him and admonish him to be magnanimous in victory. It is only God that gives power to whoever He chooses and as God has chosen him at a time like this, he needs open arm and open heart. A broadminded person that he is, this is the time to allow that virtue to really manifest”, Olubadan added.
The monarch averred that it could not be said that the litigations had slowed down governance while they lasted in view of the breath-taken actions of Mr. President, it could not be also said that there were no distractions.
He said, now, there should be total and absolute concentration on how to deliver on the renewed hope mantra, the platform upon which he (Tinubu) got the mandate last February.
“Nigerians are eager for better life and justifiably, so it is time for Mr. President to double up on his activities to put smiles on the faces of the people. And as noted earlier, the government needs the support of all, politicians and non-politicians alike.
“If it is only prayer we have to offer, don’t let’s be stingy about it. Nigeria belongs to all of us and it is in our interest and the unborn generations that we get it right this time and through the Jagaban Borgu.
“I urge the President and his team to put fear of God in whatever they do and by so doing, they would gain the confidence of the people.
“The moment the confidence is there on the part of the generality of the people, attainment of success is almost certain. Once again, I say a big congratulations to Mr. President and his Vice, Sen. Kashim Shettima with a prayer that the Almighty Allah will journey with them and grant them resounding success”, Oba Balogun stated further.
