Since His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos openly endorsed Akinwunmi Ambode, a retired civil servant in Lagos State, for the 2015 governorship post, various groups in the state have continued to slam him.
On Monday, the Democracy Volunteers (DV), a self acclaimed non-partisan platform for democratic values and transparent electoral processes, said it was shocked by the Oba’s announcement that he has endorsed Ambode.
The group openly condemn the endorsement, on Monday in a statement signed by Olamide Olatunji, its director of publicity and research, describing it as an unguarded and undemocratic utterance from a respected traditional ruler.
Oba Akiolu at the launch of a biography of Ambode not only publicly declared his endorsement, he also claimed that he and some “elders had met and discussed and the people have said Ambode will be the governor.”
“While we are not averse to the right of any Nigerian or Lagosian, as the case may be, to aspire to any elective office, the DV condemns the hasty character and manner of the said endorsement,” the group said.
The group lamented that such an outburst coming from a respected paramount ruler of Oba Akiolu’s class is tantamount “short-circuiting” the process of democratic choice which is the bedrock of any genuine democracy. It said would be wrong to allow the public to imagine that the door is close behind popular choice by the utterance and body language of the Oba.
“Such a “choice closure” inherent in Kabiyesi’s emotional endorsement is unworthy of a father figure and genuine democrat. It is dangerously close to dousing the healthy competition that is expected of the democratic search for a good governor,” the group said.
It added that in view of the wrong signal which the endorsement is capable of causing, the group holds that the declared endorsement is too weighty to be glossed over especially when viewed against the negative impression on the esteemed position and institution of Obaship.
DV maintained that Akiolu’s endorsement, is nothing but an ambush; an attempt to put the cart before the horse.
“The echoes of godfatherism are ominously apparent in this hasty canonization of an aspirant even where no primaries have been held by any political party.
“The questions to be asked are:
Is Oba Akiolu a member of a political party? When has the respected Oba become the spokesperson of a political party? Is Kabiyesi acting a script?
Is Kabiyesi’s endorsement pre-empting the emergence of other aspirants from across other political parties? Who are ‘the people’ Kabiyesi claimed agreed with him? Why the hasty endorsement?
“It has often been observed that a major bane of our democratic system is failure to throw up leaders who are truly the peoples’ choice; this is due mainly to the activities of political Czars, godfathers or kingmakers.
“The activities of these big men are the main obstacle on the path of the masses to exercise the democratic esteem and responsibility so crucial in democratic choice. The absence of internal democracy in political parties also subordinates the right to free choice under the heavy yolk of imposition.”
DV cautioned that imposing a candidate on Lagosians can only undermine the integrity of democratic process while at the same time creating an atmosphere that is conducive to mediocrity. It directs the loyalty of the imposed candidate to their godfathers, king makers and political Czars turning their attention away from the people.
“Lagos is no doubt the centre of Nigeria political gravity and unless the state is allowed to truly throw up a pro-people choice, that will serve as a reference point to save Nigeria democracy from political elites whose hallmark is democratic ambush of popular choice. There is no doubt that Kabiyesi’s declared endorsement has a potential of leaving sour taste in the Lagos political system,” DV added.
The group called for prudence on behalf of political, traditional and religious leaders from whom much is expected, saying it considers Oba Akiolu’s alleged endorsement as nothing but public expression of his personal opinion which he is well entitled to.
It dismissed the endorsement, saying it carries no electoral weight and is not binding on the general electorate.
It added that to forestall such emotional outburst from other traditional, religious and sectional leaders, the group would erect a platform tagged ‘Democracy Participatory Platform’ whereby various aspirants and candidates would be put on the same pedestal with their programmes and manifesto so that the electorate will have access to scrutinize, approve, disapprove, endorse, and question them.
