Youths protest, accuse Kwara monarch of intimidation during polls

Youths of Isanlu-Isin community in Isin LGA of Kwara State have staged a peaceful protest to the palace of the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Solomon Oloyede, over his alleged intimidation during the last governorship election in the state. They also accused him of always supporting indigenes of neighbouring towns against the community because of pecuniary interest […]

Youths of Isanlu-Isin community in Isin LGA of Kwara State have staged a peaceful protest to the palace of the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Solomon Oloyede, over his alleged intimidation during the last governorship election in the state.

They also accused him of always supporting indigenes of neighbouring towns against the community because of pecuniary interest during any contest.

Speaking on the issue, one of the youth leaders, Sola Sanjo, told our correspondent that, “The monarch intimated many of the people during the election; that they must vote for the candidate of a political party.

“This was despite the fact that a son of Isanlu-Isin was on the ballot, and many sons and daughters of the community at home and in the diaspora wanted him.

“A member of one of the opposition parties said the people loved Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and voted massively for him but that the general understanding was that the opposition candidate who was an indigene would be voted for during the House of Assembly elections; which we did.

“But the monarch’s action that day irritated many of us, and coupled with his other actions many consider antithetical to the community’s progress.”

It was gathered that the olusin who was not around during the protest had not returned to the palace several days after.

When contacted on Monday, the Olusin, Oba Solomon Oloyede, said, “I was in the palace on the day of the election and only heard that some youths protested on Thursday because their candidate did not win.”

Asked about the palace being shut, Oba Oloyede said, “What is your concern about that?”