Tuesday, September 8, 2026

#OsunDecides: Traditional ruler vows to deliver 90,000 votes for Oyetola

The Oluwo of Iwo, Rasheed Akanbi, said he was endorsing the governor because he was prompt in paying civil servants salaries.

• July 16, 2022
Oluwo of Iwo, Rasheed Akanbi and Governor Gboyega Oyetola
Oluwo of Iwo, Rasheed Akanbi and Governor Gboyega Oyetola

The Oluwo of Iwo, Rasheed Akanbi, has promised to deliver 90,000 votes for the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

Vanguard reports that the traditional ruler was said to have spoken with journalists after casting his ballot at his polling unit in Ward 2, Iwo, Osun State, on Saturday.

Mr Akanbi said he endorsed the governor because he pays civil servant salaries promptly and inherited debts owed by the state. He applauded the governor for “doing a great job” in the state while encouraging residents to vote peacefully. 

“I am confident of delivering 90,000 votes. It is not easy for the Governor to move from the status quo and do what is right. He has been paying full salary. Osun is a civil servant State and the people depend on salaries,” Mr Akanbi said.

“He has been paying debt inherited and didn’t use the money for frivolities. I have told my people to vote for the APC and they will vote for the APC.

“The Governor is doing a great job.I believe the person doing a great job should continue. I want all persons to vote peacefully,” the traditional ruler said.

Mr Akanbi said vote-buying was a challenge to Nigeria’s democracy and was largely driven by acute hunger among millions of the country’s poor, adding that a workable solution was to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.

“Vote buying is a challenge to democracy. The populace does not have hope. They are getting what they can get. It is a bad situation. We do not know when to get out of it.

“The new breed of politicians will help us to get out of it but people are hungry. They need food. Vote buying cannot stop now until we see real dividends of democracy,” he said.

He added, “My domain is peaceful. I have told them nobody should stay home. They should show their voting strength. We want to see our strength. Nobody should stay home and watch television.”

Mr Oyetola is seeking re-election in the ongoing Osun gubernatorial election on the APC platform against Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 14 other contenders.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Nasarawa State University, Keffi

States

Nasarawa varsity seeks assembly intervention to end ASUU strike

Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), has appealed to the House of Assembly to intervene in the ongoing ASUU strike.

Peter Obi

States

Police confirm attack on Obi’s convoy in Benue

The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, who confirmed the incident, said the command has begun an investigation to determine why some youths blocked the convoy.

States

Police arrest 25-year-old for murder in Bauchi

The police command in Bauchi arrested one Jabir Yusuf, a 25-year-old for killing a resident, Hassan Mohamed.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Economy

CBN elevates terrorism financing supervision

CBN’s acting director of corporate communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali, said the apex bank elevated the supervision of terrorism financing.

LIT LANTERN IN DARKNESS

Abuja

TCN announces six-hour power disruption in Abuja, Niger

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced a six-hour power disruption in parts of Abuja and Niger on Tuesday.

States

Kano police arrest 35-year-old man for impersonation

Police arrested a man in Kano for posing as a chief superintendent of police and defrauding the public.