The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Saka Matemilola, has urged Nigerians to resist vote-buying in the 2027 general elections, warning that collecting N5,000 or N10,000 to vote means selling their conscience and the future of their children.
The monarch gave the charge while addressing journalists as part of activities in commemoration of his 4th coronation anniversary.
Oba Matemilola maintained that the primary responsibility of traditional rulers is the well-being of their people across education, health and the economy.
He asserted that while the constitution has “neglected completely the role of traditional rulers,” this should not stop monarchs from ensuring responsible leaders emerge.
Oba Matemilola charged royal fathers to mobilize their subjects to obtain Permanent Voter Cards and to vote on election day, stressing that they must guide their people to choose leaders with integrity and genuine interest in community development.
The monarch said, “The well-being of our people should be our only focus. For those who really understand why they are on that seat, that should be our only focus. We must realize that we have a role to see to it that all responsible politicians get to those seats.
“We know the candidates, and we have to interact with them. We cannot be passive at all.
“We must encourage our people to shine their eyes during the election period. They should not sell their conscience, they should not sell their future, the future of their children, and the whole community, for N5,000 or N10,000 because somebody wants to induce them,” he cautioned.
“We should think very carefully to ensure that the person they vote for is a person they trust, has their interest at heart. It’s our responsibility to do that to our subjects.”
He, however, stressed that traditional rulers must remain non-partisan, saying “We cannot be partisan, because they are all our children. All the politicians are our children.
“But at the same time, we have to ensure that only the right people are the ones that we advise our subjects to consider voting for,” Oba Matemilola concluded.
2027: ‘Don’t sell future of your children for N5,000’ – Ogun monarch warns Nigerians