Osun state chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Dr Tosin Odeyemi, has asked that Hon. Adewale Egbedun step aside as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly for his recent unruly and uncouth behaviours towards Alashi of Ashi, Oba Oyewale Olasunkanmi Isaac.
In a viral audio, Egbedun was heard calling the monarch unprintable names, threatening to remove him and threatening to make Ogun, the god of iron, swim in his blood if he dare step into Ashi any time soon.
This has degenerated to brews on social media as the monarch has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 1X on threat to his life by Egbedun.
In his response, Egbedun admitted to have resulted into that phone call due to what he described as ‘threat of further violence’ by the Alashi.
But in swift reaction, Odeyemi said on no justifiable reasons should a number 3 citizen of the state resulted into gutter languages when referring to even an ordinary citizens not to talk of a revered traditional ruler.
According to him, “It’s embarrassing and shameful for Egbedun to have reacted in such manner. My thoughts when I first listened to the audio was that his phone was cloned but when I read his response this morning where he admitted to have been the one, I was surprised.
“No matter the offence of Alashi, Egbedun should have made use of all the established avenues to report the monarch and call the monarch to order rather than resulting into an insolent and childish acts.
“If Egbedun has no regard for his hometown monarch, he could have at least, as a Yoruba man, have a level of respect for the stool Alashi is occupying which is permanent compared to political posts.
“The monarch is old enough to be his (Egbedun) father, he should have shown decorum as a fortunate youth in the state rather than exposing our dear state to a ridicule as seen on all social media platforms presently.
“He is ruining the chances of youth, not only in Osun state, but in Nigeria, as people will start having second thoughts on entrusting power and position in younger generations.
“It is shameful and uncalled for. Egbedun has shown he has no capacity to manage crisis. If he could do that to his own king, definitely, no monarch in the state is above his tongue lashing sooner or later if something urgent is not done.
“As a stakeholder in the polity of Osun state, the honourable thing for Egbedun to do now is to step aside. He hasn’t shown any sign of remorse. Leaders of thoughts should rise fast and lend their voices to this call. Osun belongs to all of us”