Posted by Chinenye on Wed 29th Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
The Olowu of Owu Kingdom has issued a strong warning ahead of the next general elections, urging citizens to make choices that could shape their future.
(Oba Saka Matemilola. Photo Credit: Guardian Nigerian News)
Oba Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, has advised Nigerians to oppose vote-buying in the general elections of 2027, cautioning that obtaining N5,000 or N10,000 to cast a ballot amounts to selling their conscience and their children's future.
As part of events honoring his fourth anniversary of coronation, the monarch gave the charge while speaking to reporters.
Oba Matemilola maintained that the primary responsibility of traditional rulers is the well-being of their people across education, health and the economy.
He argued that although the constitution had completely neglected the role of traditional rulers, this should not stop monarchs from ensuring that responsible leaders emerge.
He therefore charged royal fathers to mobilise their subjects to obtain Permanent Voter Cards and turn out to vote on election day, stressing that they must guide their people towards choosing leaders with integrity and a genuine interest in community development.
According to him, the well-being of the people should remain the sole focus of anyone who truly understands the essence of their traditional role, adding that traditional rulers have a responsibility to ensure that only responsible politicians occupy public office.
He noted that since traditional rulers know the candidates and interact with them, they cannot afford to remain passive.
He urged royal fathers to encourage their people to be vigilant during the election period, warning them against selling their conscience or mortgaging their future and that of their children and community for as little as N5,000 or N10,000 in exchange for inducement.
He stressed that people must think carefully to ensure they vote for candidates they trust and who genuinely have their interests at heart, describing this as a responsibility traditional rulers owe their subjects.
He, however, insisted that traditional rulers must remain non-partisan, noting that all politicians are regarded as their children and as such they cannot take sides.
He added that despite this neutrality, traditional rulers still have a duty to ensure that only the right candidates are the ones they encourage their subjects to consider voting for.