THE traditional monarch of Iba Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji, who allegedly ordered a voter to be beaten and stabbed during the 2023 general election, has been named as the new chairman of the Lagos State Branch of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).
The change in leadership occurred following the suspension of the association’s operations by the Lagos state government for almost a year.
The association’s National Executive Council (NEC) was present when Adeshina and his executive team were inaugurated on Thursday, March 14, in Abuja.
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This new chapter was made possible by the Federal Government’s intervention in breaking the impasse that stalled the initial inauguration of the association.
Adeshina expressed his happiness and appreciation for the confidence shown by being chosen as chairman in his acceptance speech.
The ICIR reported in June last year that the Lagos State gubernatorial election of Saturday, March 18 2023, ended with a sad tale for a voter *John Kadiri (not his real name), who resided in Lagos.
Kadiri, an indigene of Lagos, told The ICIR that he had never been humiliated as he experienced during the governorship election.
According to him, trouble started a few minutes before midnight on Sunday, April 19, a day after the election.
Kadiri said he opened his door that night because he could recognise the voice at the door.
According to him, the visitors told him the Kabiyesi wanted to see him.
“They insisted I must go with them immediately. I was tying only a white wrapper and holding a torchlight since I had a clear conscience.
Kadiri said that shortly before getting to the palace of the Oniba of Iba-Adesina, he felt a sharp pain in his back; his captors had macheted him.
“When we almost got to Hajji bus stop, suddenly someone struck me with a cutlass on my back. I looked back and shouted, “Why are you stabbing me?’ By this time, my white wrapper was already soaked with blood.
“I thought the Kabiyesi was waiting somewhere, but the team leader instructed one of the boys to blindfold me,” Kadiri stated.
Kadiri told The ICIR that immediately after he arrived at the traditional ruler’s palace in Iba Town, the Kabiyesi said, “It serves you right. A whole me the King of the town, I begged you, I pleaded with you, but you refused and gathered Igbo people to vote against me on election day. You also invited soldiers to chase my boys into the swamp; what if they have died?”
He added that the traditional ruler, surrounded by some of his chiefs and biological father, became furious and shouted at him.
“He ordered his boys to deal with me; cutlasses and sticks were used on me. I was seriously beaten,” he alleged.
“See where they stabbed me. I prostrated and begged. I cried; I asked for my offence. I have never been dealt with like this before without committing any offence. I was not paid. This Sule Maito has never done anything for me, but he was oppressing me,” he cried.
Reacting to the allegation levelled against him in a telephone chat with The ICIR on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Adeshina denied the accusation and claimed that as a responsible king, he is not involved in skirmishes with anyone.
“Who said so? With my calibre, I will go and beat somebody? The King asked.
When told that the victim said he did not participate physically in the incident but sent some boys, the Kabiyesi said, “I don’t understand what that person is saying. There is nothing like that in this Iba Town. The election was in March, and who won has won; that’s the main thing. Who do I want to fight with? We are all one; I am a king; I can not play tribalism. I don’t have a problem with anybody at all.” Read the report here.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance