As political alignments and campaigns for the 2027 general elections begin to take shape across the nation, a prominent traditional ruler in Ogun State has sent a stern warning to politicians who isolate themselves from the public. The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, has firmly urged voters and fellow traditional leaders to reject any political candidate who refuses to maintain open lines of communication.

The monarch handed down this mandate in a strongly-worded press statement released on Sunday, addressing the growing trend of political office seekers becoming inaccessible once elections draw near. Oba Akinyemi explicitly declared that any governorship candidate or politician who deliberately ignores phone calls or fails to respond to text messages from citizens does not deserve the people`s mandate.

According to the traditional ruler, the habit of responding to calls and messages is not a luxury, but rather a fundamental responsibility of public service. He stressed that leadership requires active engagement, and any candidate who cuts off communication with the community they intend to govern has already failed a crucial test of leadership capability.

The royal father warned that when public officials intentionally build a communication wall between themselves and the public, it completely paralyses governance. He noted that silent leadership breeds heavy suspicion of corruption and secrecy, as citizens naturally interpret a politician`s absolute silence as a sign of guilt or underhanded dealings.

To further drive home his point, Oba Akinyemi outlined seven distinct dangers of keeping the electorate incommunicado, which include the rapid breakdown of public trust, erosion of accountability, and the escalation of community crises. He noted that when official channels are silent, it creates a dangerous vacuum that allows rumours, fake news, and malicious actors to hijack public narratives.

Consequently, the Eselu extended his candid counsel beyond ordinary voters to include co-traditional rulers, high chiefs, and civil society organisations within Ogun State. He urged them to look past the wealth or high social status of these political aspirants and strictly measure them by their accessibility and willingness to listen to the people.

The monarch emphasized that making accessibility a primary voting criterion for the 2027 elections will serve as a much-needed lesson to the political class. He stated that firmly rejecting inaccessible candidates at the polls will force future office seekers to respect the electorate and take public accountability more seriously.

Oba Akinyemi concluded his statement by reiterating that political legitimacy is built entirely on communication and trust. He warned that if voters continue to support politicians who treat them with disdain and silence, they will only have themselves to blame for the subsequent disconnect and lack of development in their communities.