I never approved any endorsement, Osun monarch says
By: Abudu Olalekan
Osun 2027 politics took a fresh turn on Sunday after the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedotun, said clearly that he did not approve any endorsement of a governorship candidate ahead of the next election in Osun State.
The monarch spoke at his palace in Ila-Orangun and tried to set the record straight. Calmly, but firmly too. He said he does not have a favourite among the political parties preparing for the 2027 governorship race, and he has not backed anybody.
Why? Simple.
According to him, many people from his town are active in different political parties, so picking one side over another would make no sense. It would also be unfair. In his view, a traditional ruler should be focused on the progress of his community, not dragged into party fights every election season.
His reaction followed a statement earlier issued by Osun State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi. That statement claimed some Ila-Orangun High Chiefs visited Governor Ademola Adeleke and, on behalf of Oba Oyedotun, pledged support for the governor’s re-election.
The same statement also said the delegation distanced the Ila community from the action of Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, who recently moved from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress. It further claimed that the monarch and the people of Ila appreciated development projects by the Adeleke administration, especially the ongoing dual carriageway project.
But the royal father says that’s not how it happened. Not from him, anyway.
Oba Oyedotun said he never gave anyone permission to endorse any candidate in his name. He made it plain that while he wants development for Ila-Orangun, he is not involved in partisan politics.
Speaking in Yoruba, the monarch said royal fathers across Yorubaland should be careful not to allow politicians divide them. He noted that politicians, no matter their party, are all subjects of traditional rulers. Today they quarrel in public, tomorrow they meet behind closed doors. That’s politics. But if monarchs begin fighting themselves because of politicians, he said, they are the ones who will look foolish in the end.
He said, in essence, that politicians will always play their game, while royal fathers should stay focused on building and developing their communities.
Oba Oyedotun also said he was not denying those involved in the palace move are his people. Still, he was clearly uncomfortable with the way his name was used. That part annoyed him a bit. He said he did not approve what they did.
He also touched on Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, the lawmaker representing Osun Central Senatorial District. According to the monarch, the senator, who is from Ila-Orangun, remains an important son of the town and still enjoys his support.
So, for now, the palace position is pretty direct: no candidate has the monarch’s official blessing. Not yet. Maybe not at all.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
