The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, has warned politicians that are not favourably disposed to hearing the truth to steer clear of his palace.
The traditional ruler gave the warning in an interview published by Sunday Vanguard.
According to Oba Akiolu, Nigerians should shun money politics and watch against corrupt politicians who move around only because elections are close by.
A staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid, the traditional ruler said Nigeria needed a man of the president’s integrity.
He also shaded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who allegedly bribed delegates at PDP’s October National Convention with thousands of dollars each to secure their votes.
Speaking ahead of the 2019 general elections, Oba Akiolu said, “It is unfortunate, many Nigerians are deceiving themselves. The kind of politics we play here is ‘money politics.’ Politicians should bring their manifestoes and their followers should make sure they deliver on their promises. But for some people to line-up somewhere and be collecting $20,000, $25,000 to pick a presidential candidate is wrong. If the person gets there, he will first recoup his money.
I pray those people should not get there. It’s unfortunate that Buhari did not stay long as Head of State in 1984, Nigeria would have been better. Buhari is one of the few, politicians who are not materialistic. Majority of them are ‘grab –grab’ politicians. Let me use this medium to tell all those politicians moving about because election is coming, that if they are not ready to hear the truth, they should not come to my palace. I will tell them that they are thieves, Nigerians know them, and youths should not allow politicians to use them.”
Read Also:No One Can Stop Igbo Presidency When Time Is Right – Edwin Clark