Abusive Audio: Hon. Oladele Charges Politicians To Respect Traditional Rulers
Nigeria – A member of the House of Representatives in the last dispensation and a Chieftain of Ogun State All Progressive Congress, APC, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has called on political parties candidates and their supporters to respect traditional rulers institution.
According to Oladele, who was Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes, who made this call as a result of an audio posting on some social media platforms in which an unidentified individual used several unprintable words against the Olu of Ilaro and the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle over the Yewa Traditional Council’s endorsement of the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun second time re-election bid, Traditional Rulers, who are regarded as the custodians of our customs and cultural heritage are our Royal Fathers, regardless of their age or economic status that deserves much respect.
To Oladele, an International Human Rights lawyer and former NADECO activist, any person of Yoruba lineage and from good home would not desecrate Obas institution.
“To abuse royal fathers because of politics is an uncultured act and politics of desperation, which must be condemned by any well brought up Yoruba person”, he said.
Barr. Oladele was of the opinion that, as traditional rulers, Obas cannot engage in media diatribes with individuals or fight back to protect their reputation; “therefore, it would be unfair to turn them into punching bags as a way of expressing our political opinions, particularly when disagreeing with their positions”.
According to him, “as the general elections draw near, tempers are rising and polity is being heated up day by day. I expect naming callings, accusations and counter accusations to be on the increase and occupy the media space. However, in all of this, we must insulate and protect our traditional institutions. In addition, we must know that there are certain lines we cannot cross even when exercising our constitution freedom of speech”.
Oladele therefore, appealed to politicians and their supporters to eschew any forms of hate or abusive, incitement, threatening speeches or writings that express prejudice against individuals or groups under the pretext of exercising constitutional freedom of expression.
He added that it is even sacrilegious when such statements are directed at our traditional rulers.
Oladele opined that what binds us together is far beyond elections and we “must avoid situations where we would allow politics to tear us or our traditional institutions apart”. - PROWLINGEAGLES
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