Why we invited Senate President Saraki as Special Guest for 2018 Ojude Oba….Fassy Yusuf

May I thank you all for the interest being shown on this platform especially as it concerns Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki who has been invited as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2018 edition of Ojude Oba Festival.

Let it be said with all humility I am not a registered member of any political party in our dear country. It is my choice. However, I am an analyst- a socio-political, communication and public affairs observer cum analyst, and a servant of Ijebu nation. I do my best to serve.

The choice of Saraki should not attract any political nor religious connotation, after all in the past, Ojude Oba played host to political gladiators not in the same party with those at the helm of affairs in Ogun State during those editions. In the last seven years, we saw our amiable Governor and my brother, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA., playing host to PDP stalwarts (David Mark, Tambuwal, Dickson, etc.) at Ojude Oba Days. Ditto, my brother and former Governor Daniel, fas. Nigerian politics is all about alignment and realignment of forces cum interests- no permanent friends, no permanent foes. We must be circumspect about the way we approach and analyse issues. Objectivity, rationality, truth, equity, justice and fairness must be our watch words.

We must imbibe those virtues Ojude Oba espouse: tolerance, accommodation, civility and mutual respect.

The decision to invite Saraki was taken early in 2017. However, he could not make it in 2017. And, the same invitation was extended to him before the present political imbroglio/impasse. The decision to invite him is devoid of politics as Ojude has nothing to do with political permutation or consideration. Doing so or going the direction of politics would mean insulting the sensibility of Ijebu who belong to the various 50 or so political parties in Nigeria.

The palace is in touch with authorities in our dear State and at Federal level and wishes to reiterate the fact that mutual coexistence, mutual trust, plurality of religious choices, harmony, liberty and freedom are essential ingredients of democracy. Ojude Oba is a gift to Nigeria on harmony, understanding, tolerance and accommodation. Politics should not divide us as a people. Let us eschew bitterness and rancour like the plague

May we live to celebrate many Ojude Oba (Amen).

—Chief (Dr.) Fassy Yusuf

(Baagbimo of Ijebu)

Coordinator of Ojude Oba Festival