In a surprising turn of events, the scheduled town hall meeting in Akure, Ondo state, set for December 16, 2023, by Omoyele Sowore, faced an abrupt cancellation by the palace.
Omoyele Sowore had called for the town hall meeting to address the political stalemate caused by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s prolonged illness and absence from the state. The palace, however, unilaterally revoked the approval, citing an alleged concealment of purpose.
Chief Press Secretary to the Deji of Akure, Mr. Adeyeye Michael, emphasized the requirement for full disclosure of the event’s purpose when seeking approval for the hall’s use. While the hall is open for various activities, including political gatherings, the palace claimed that Sowore’s team concealed the true motive behind their request.
Despite the hall’s availability for political events, the palace raised concerns about the alleged “pretentious manner” in which the booking occurred. Sowore’s legal counsel, Tope Temokun, challenges the palace to reveal the specific details of the supposed concealment and questions the justification for the sudden withdrawal.
Temokun contends that Sowore, as a prominent political figure and indigene of Ondo State, has the right to address citizens on the governance vacuum. He challenges the palace’s fear of a procession or street protest, clarifying that the town hall was not booked for such activities.
The dispute raises questions about the fairness of canceling a paid license without credible explanations. As the legal team prepares for potential legal action, the palace is urged to provide transparent details regarding the alleged concealment and justify the withdrawal of approval.