By Oluwakemi Ishola
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content and lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Oloye Teslim Folarin has strongly condemned the Sunday invasion of the palace of Soun of Ogbomoso by some youths reportedly joining the fray of the nationwide protests against the alleged brutality of the men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) which is a Unit of the Nigerian Police Force.
The invasion and vandalism of the Soun’s palace by some irate youths in the ancient town was a fallout of the alleged killing of an undergraduate of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) by a yet-to-be identified policeman during the #ENDSARS protest in Ogbomoso on Saturday.
The Pacesetter News reliably gathered that the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, was the prime target of the attack. Sources told our correspondent that the protesters demanded the audience of the federal Minister but were turned down.
“The protesting youths spotted the convoy of the Minister of Youth and they requested him to address them but he reportedly turned them down. The action of the Minister did not go down well with the youths who trailed him to Soun’s Palace. All efforts by protesters to gain access to the palace were resisted by the security agents attached to the Minister and the palace. The youths eventually forced their way into the palace and subsequently vandalised properties worth millions in the palace Kabiyesi” sources revealed.
Sen. Folarin, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity – Com. YSO Olaniyi, expressed sadness over the palace invasion saying it is unacceptable for youths to express their discontent through violent means.
The statement reads in part;
“I received the worrisome news of the attack on the Palace of our royal father – His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungnade III (The Soun of Ogbomoso Land), with grave shock and disbelief. Palaces are sacred and must not be violated by anyone or group of individuals. The actions of the youths are barbaric, sacrilegious and unacceptable”
“As we jointly condemned the excesses of the officers of the disbanded FSARS, we must not overlook the obviously senseless actions of our youths. The invasion and vandalism are insulting not only to the stool of Soun but also the entire Yoruba race. The protesters deserve appropriate punishments in order to forestall future occurences.
“While I deeply sympathise with our royal father and the people of the ancient town of Ogbomoso over the very unfortunate incident, I have already joined stakeholders to get justice for late Jimoh Isiaq”
“May peace and tranquility continue to reign in Nigeria. Kabiyesi, long may you live for us in peace and sound health. May Ogbomoso and its environs continue to witness meaningful progress” he concluded.
