Oluwatosin Enesi
The first class traditional ruler said this at a dinner to which he was hosted by his friends in the United States of America.
Olaoye said following his being ingrained among the people, he now understands the reason they collect money to cast their votes for politicians during elections.
In a video of the dinner the monarch lamented that the country has become very tough in recent times, which in turn made everyone a beggar in order to survive.
He also faulted the poor performance of the government, noting that the people have been deprived of the basic needs meant to be provided for them, which he alleged is responsible for the collection of money to sell their votes
Speaking on his travels within the country before his ascension to the throne, Oba Olaoye disclosed that he has been to Ogbomosho only thrice in 30 years.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the level of development the town has attained after so many years.
Oba Olaoye’s words: “I have been in America for 29 years.
“Nigeria is tough and this year has been especially brutal and it has turned everybody, literally, to be beggars.
“The country has turned everybody to be beggars.
“Business is very slow.
“I thought I knew how to do business….
“There’s a way you say you see an end.
“You know I’m not saying this because I was a pastor before, but I don’t know how anybody survives Nigeria without hope and that is one thing the churches give.
“It is like an inoculation.
“They come to church every Sunday to get an inoculation to continue.
“Yes, without hope in that country, I’m serious, I don’t know how people survive.
“It doesn’t look good, everywhere you turn.
“Nobody does anything for free.
“Nobody.
“Anybody who is parking you expects something after parking you.
“I go to Lagos or Abuja most of the time I’m around.
“I went to Ogbomosho only three times before I became king so I don’t know the town in the past 30 years, but what I saw when I got there… hmmm…. then I understand why politicians give people N5,000 to buy their votes.
“I couldn’t understand it.
“I do abuse them saying you sold your future for four years.
“Some of them have never held N5,000 cash at once.
“So when you give them only N1,000, they will continue appreciating.
“Some people are that poor.
“They think I’ve not eaten and someone gives me N5,000.
“And it is also because they don’t feel the impact of the politicians.
“Look at the development of the whole town.
“It is only individuals that have done the little there.
“What has the government done?
“The basic things: Water, light, good roads, good schools, none of those things are existing.
“You think about it.
“The normal thing we have access to here.
“There is nothing you can point to, sincerely, that the government has done.
“I saw on TikTok the other day, the governor of Kano bought wheelbarrows.
“What concerns the governor with a wheelbarrow?
“The people’s minds have been changed.”
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