Deprived people of Osun State threaten their governor with prayers

OSHOGBO - Barely 48 hours after lavishing N53 million tax payers money on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and 10 other traditional rulers, the Osun state Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola announced panic measures to protect himself and members of his cabinet from the wrath of the tax payers.

The panic announcement might not be unconnected with the series of threatening long-life wishes and prayers the governor and his lieutenants have been receiving from unknown people since he doled out 11 cars to traditional rulers in Osun State.

Speaking to newsmen at the weekend at the government shrine, Oshogbo, the panic-stricken governor wondered why anyone would want to pray for his government, when it was obvious what he had done would not be viewed by the majority as deserving of prayers. He said: “Naturally, you become suspicious of such praises and prayers particularly coming from people you have deprived and who have every right to be angry and mad at you. And believe me, when you receive such prayers, it’s a sign something ominous is in the offing and you should start thinking of ways of protecting and securing yourself.”

Among the measures he announced to ensure security for himself and members of his government, he charged the federal government to provide jobs to enable ordinary Nigerians fight the prevalent poverty in the country and halt the current war of politically-motivated prayers.

He said, “It is disheartening that the spate of prayers has assumed a dangerous dimension and if not checked, can affect the peace and progress of the country. The only way out of the present situation is for the federal government to provide the people with jobs to occupy them from making mischief, and to equip the governors, prominent leaders and top government functionaries with bulletproof vests and jeeps.”

When asked by reporters why he was charging the federal government with tasks he was adequately equipped to undertake as a governor, Prince Oyinlola replied: “I am at the present focused on restoring the Council of traditional rulers to its position of honour. You know I am a prince, so I have an interest in the matter. It’s a long-term undertaken and very expensive. The least the federal government can do is to help mind the people.”

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