The Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, weekend, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to consider sons and daughters of his kingdom for key cabinet positions in his government.
Oba Aladetoyinbo made the plea while playing host to President Buhari, All Progressives Congress, APC leaders and other top government functionaries, who paid him a courtesy visit in Akure.
The Oba expressed concerns over the exclusion of sons and daughters of Akure from key federal cabinet positions since the exit of Chief Olu Falae from the federal cabinet in the late 80s.
He said: “Akure kingdom has highly qualified and professionally sound sons and daughters, who have made indelible marks in various aspects of life.”
Oba Aladetoyinbo identified some prominent and accomplished sons of the kingdom such as Tunji Ariyomo, an engineer and former United Kingdom Coordinator of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, who was also an APC governorship aspirant; Hon. Sunday Abegunde, a former member of the House of Representatives and Niyi Adegbonmire, a lawyer who was also an aspirant.
The monarch said: “When none of your sons and daughters are part of decision-making in Abuja, you are somewhat cut off and this will definitely affect development.
If you are screened out of the federal in terms of participation, you become local.”
Responding, President Buhari apologized for the oversight and agreed with the monarch that he truly should thank the people of Akure for their vast votes at the presidential elections and that it is in order to appoint their qualified people to be part of the government.
