Mogaji (Hon.) Olajide Olatoye, popularly known as Big Daddy Sugar, has reacted to reports that the Elejioku of Ejioku allegedly endorsed a third-term bid for the Lagelu State Constituency seat at the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Speaking after a high-level meeting with stakeholders and major political blocs in Lagelu, Big Daddy Sugar said he found it difficult to believe that the traditional ruler, Oba Bashiru Adeshina, could involve himself directly in partisan politics.
“I don’t want to believe that Elejioku of Ejioku could get himself into politics,” he said, adding that monarchs are traditionally regarded as fathers of all who should remain neutral and give royal blessings to all politicians without bias.
According to him, traditional rulers are expected to maintain political neutrality in order to preserve unity in their domains.
“Monarchs are known as fathers of all without segregation. They give royal blessings to all politicians without bias. But in this case, Elejioku of Ejioku was reportedly seen openly endorsing a politician in public. Such an act can cause division, hatred and rancour within Lagelu,” he stated.
Big Daddy Sugar further argued that even highly respected first-class monarchs across Nigeria and around the world rarely engage in actions that could create tension among political actors.
He described the alleged endorsement as an “eyesore,” stressing that kings are expected to stay away from partisan politics to avoid confusion among the people.
The Lagelu political figure also called on the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, to intervene in the matter.
“I hereby call on our revered royal father, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Senator) Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, to please call Oba Rasheed Adeshina to order and caution him against actions that may drag the throne into partisan politics or cause unrest in Lagelu,” he said.
Big Daddy Sugar also emphasized that political endorsements should not come from traditional rulers but from divine will and the leadership of the state government.
“Endorsement is not from any king; it is from God and the governor,” he said, referring to Governor Seyi Makinde.
He added that supporting a third-term bid for a lawmaker who has already served two tenures contradicts the principle of political rotation within the constituency, And I am sure he has been bribed for this action. If he doesn’t know the laws that guides him as a monarch, he should kindly visit Oba (Senator) Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Arusa I to have more lectures on how to speak in the public as a king.
Asking other Kings and Bales, none of them claimed in support of this act of division. Let me remind him that he was a Baale before he was promoted to become king, while I am a Mogaji(a future Olubadan by God’s grace). Reiterating his appeal, Big Daddy Sugar urged the Olubadan to step in and restore neutrality in order to maintain peace and unity in Lagelu.
