The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi and the Oyomesi on Saturday told the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo state and former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala that they have forgiven him for whatever wrong he did to them when he was the governor of the state, adding that he had always been their child in Oyo.
Oba Adeyemi and the Oyomesi gave the pardon when Alao-Akala paid him a visit to inform him of his ambition and ask for his blessings.
The Alaafin stated that Alao-Akala over the years had acted like a well-trained child and he can attest that he is his good child, adding that he had been forgiven a long time ago and he had been expecting him as a child to come back home.
According to him, he had worked with 13 presidents and head of states, as well as 20 governors and none of them, had ever admitted that they made a mistake while still in power both publicly and in private.
The Alaafin stated that Alao-Akala had written him a letter of apology even as a sitting governor and had also apologised publicly on the radio, adding that from the contents of the letter, it was obvious that Alao-Akala was reacting like a child abandoned by his father at that period.
“When a child talks to his father the way he spoke in that letter, it is obvious that he is a well-trained child. He is a good child and he acted like one and I have forgiven him because he is my child,” Alaafin stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Oyomesi, the Samu of Oyo, Chief Lamidi Oyewale stated that all had been forgiven, adding that the Oyomesi, the Queens and the princes had met and they have all listened to counsel and have whole heatedly forgiven Alao-Akala who he said is a child of the palace.
Alao-Akala had earlier informed the Oyomesi that he has come home as a child who had realised his mistake and found his way home.
“I have come home as your child and like a well-trained child, I cannot make the same mistakes twice. I have come for prayers, I know all politicians are your children and you will pray for all of us, it is God that will decide which he will grant because God sees the heart of man in answering prayers.
“I am still the son you know, I have not changed. Help us to put Oyo state in its rightful position as the pacesetter. I know the significance of the Alaafin and the Oyomesi and I won’t take tradition for granted. We will not be proud or disappoint you,” he stated.
