Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Wednesday hosted social commentator and President of the Ratel Movement, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at his historic palace in Iwo, Osun State.
The visit attracted members of the Ratel Movement from across the country, who gathered at the palace to welcome and show solidarity with their leader.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, VDM declared that the Ratel Movement was prepared to take an active role in Nigeria’s political landscape.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for championing local government autonomy, describing the policy as a significant step toward strengthening grassroots governance and accelerating community development.
However, VDM urged the Federal Government to ensure the policy is fully implemented, stressing that local governments must have unhindered access to their statutory allocations and be allowed to deliver meaningful development and services to the people.
He further called on Nigerians to hold local government officials accountable by demanding transparency and responsible leadership.
According to him, citizens should subject local government administrations to the same level of scrutiny and public oversight they apply to state and federal governments, insisting that stronger civic engagement is essential for effective governance at the grassroots.
“This is my first time in Osun State. I have listened to the king, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, requesting my movement to join active politics.
“In our recent meetings, politics has formed part of our discussions. We are working and planning on this. At appropriate time very soon, we will support the most trusted ones among us.
“We will start from the local government level. I have made contact because there is a way we do our things.
“One thing I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for was the granting of local government autonomy to our local government even though some states are frustrating it.
“I am happy that Oluwo of Iwoland has said the autonomy granted by the President is working in Osun State.
“I want to appeal to the masses to dissipate more energy in their oversight monitoring and criticism of local and state governments administration in Nigeria. We should ask those managing our local government more questions,” he said.
