A delegation of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in Osun State have pleaded with the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) to intervene in the case between a former deputy governor of the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The EFCC picked up the PDP chieftain penultimate Sunday at his Maitama residence in Abuja after months of hide-and-seek.
He is being accused, alongside three companies, in which he has interests, of receiving about N1.3billion out of the arms procurement fund in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under embattled Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.). Omisore denied any wrongdoing.
A statement by the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Comrade Moses Olafare at the weekend, said the appeal for the Ooni to intervene was made on Wednesday by the Osun PDP Chairman, Hon. Adesoji Adagunodo, who led other leaders of the party on a courtesy visit to the revered monarch at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife.
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According to the statement, Adagunodo apologised on behalf of the detained former governorship candidate of the party for having failed to pay homage to the new Ooni since his enthronement in December, last year.
It also said the PDP Chairman pledged to personally bring Omisore to the palace upon his release to make his ways straight with Ooni Ogunwusi.
The statement read in part: “Your Imperial Majesty, we are here to pay our homage to you as the father of our race who must be respected by all true sons and daughters of Yoruba Race. We also beg you in the name of Oduduwa to use your goodwill in assisting us to rescue one of our leaders, Otunba Iyiola Omisore, from the EFCC detention even though we are not unaware of his attitude towards this sacred palace as he has refused to pay homage since you were divinely crowned seven months ago.
“We can assure you of his change of attitude as soon as he is released from detention”.
According to the statement, Ogunwusi said he had no grudge against Omisore, who he described as a prominent Ife indigene that is entitled to his choice of relationship.
Nonetheless, the monarch assured the PDP chairman and his delegation of his readiness to assist them within his limited capability and prayed that God will set Omisore free if he has no skeleton in his cupboard over the matter.
The delegation to the Ooni’s palace included the Ife/Ijesa Senatorial leader, Hon. Wale Ojo; Ife Central Local Government (LG) Chair, Hon. Adebowale Adedotun (Meree); Ife East LG Chair, Hon. Durojaye Isaac; Hon. Funso Babarinde; Engr. Marcus Adedini; Prince Olajide Olaosebikan and Prince Tobi Akomolede.
