Pelumi Olajengbesi
The Pelumi Olajengbesi Campaign Organization (POCO) has criticised Hon. Wole Oke over his open letter to the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Olufemi Agunsoye, accusing the lawmaker of attempting to blackmail the traditional ruler over his comments on political oath-taking.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Sodiq Lawal Chocomilo, POCO Obtained by Thecasternews, described Oke’s letter as an attempt to renew his loyalty to the monarch, alleging that the lawmaker had failed to deliver meaningful development projects to Ijebu-Jesa despite spending years in office.
The campaign organisation criticised the mini-stadium project in Ijebu-Jesa, describing it as substandard and abandoned. It also alleged that the project represented one of Oke’s few visible legacies in the community after years in public office.
POCO further accused the lawmaker of invoking his relationship with the traditional ruler only during election periods, arguing that the monarch had a responsibility to protect his subjects from political pressure and alleged coercion.
The organisation defended Oba Agunsoye’s reported directive against taking eligible voters to shrines for oath-taking, saying the monarch had declared such oaths null and void and assured residents that they would suffer no consequences for rejecting them.
According to POCO, the monarch’s position was intended to protect voters from intimidation and allow them to exercise their political choices freely.
The campaign organisation also questioned why Oke was reportedly concerned about the monarch’s position, asking whether the lawmaker was associated with the alleged practice of taking voters to shrines for oath-taking.
POCO challenged Oke to focus on presenting his constituency’s development projects rather than criticising the traditional ruler. It specifically cited the 16-year uncompleted Military Games Village in Esa-Oke, which it alleged had remained unfinished.
The organisation concluded by urging politicians to respect the traditional institution and stop any practice capable of intimidating voters ahead of elections.
