Orangun of Ila denies endorsing Adeleke, insists on political neutrality
The Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, has denied authorising the endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term, insisting that he remains politically neutral ahead of the 2027 Osun State governorship election.
The monarch made the clarification at his palace in Ila-Orangun on Sunday, following reports that a delegation of Ila-Orangun High Chiefs visited Governor Adeleke and pledged support for his re-election on behalf of the traditional ruler.
According to the earlier statement issued by the Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, the delegation also dissociated the Ila community from the defection of Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and commended the Adeleke administration for developmental projects in the area.
Reacting to the development, Oba Oyedotun said he had not endorsed any candidate, stressing that as a traditional ruler, all politicians in the state remained his subjects regardless of their political affiliations.
“I am after the development of my domain. I am not involved in politics. All the politicians in Yorubaland are our subjects. Regardless of the party, be it APC, PDP, AD or Accord, they all belong to us. I don’t know about the endorsement, but I didn’t approve what they did,” the monarch said.
He added that while those behind the reported endorsement remained his subjects, he was concerned that his name was used without his consent.
The monarch also addressed claims surrounding Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, describing the lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District as an important son of Ila-Orangun who continues to enjoy his support.
