The Kwara South Mandate Group, under the leadership of Chief Olayemi Afolayan, has decried alleged moves to coerce and pressure first-class traditional rulers across the 16 local government areas of Kwara South into endorsing a particular gubernatorial aspirant, Hon. Salihu Danladi, the current Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

According to Afolayan, the group considered such move as not only disturbing, but also disrespectful to the traditional rulers in Kwara South, saying the sacred stools occupied by these monarchs should not be used as instruments for political manipulation, nor should they be reduced to tools in any form of partisan contest.

He said: “We find these reports not only disturbing but profoundly disrespectful to the institution of traditional leadership, which has, for generations, served as a pillar of cultural identity, unity, and moral authority in our society.

“The sacred stools occupied by our revered Obas are not instruments for political manipulation, nor should they be reduced to tools in any form of partisan contest. “Our traditional rulers are custodians of our heritage, symbols of our collective dignity, and embodiments of the values that bind our communities together.”