President Goodluck Jonathan has been endorsed for a second term by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who went on to offer prayers for him.
Although it is not clear how this will impact on the electoral fortune of Jonathan in the south-west — which is considered by many analysts as the battleground for the March 28 presidential poll — it is still a symbolic gesture from one of the most revered traditional rulers in the country.
At the palace on Saturday, Jonathan said: “One of the key things that we must do is to ensure that we have some significant changes in the country in terms of social and political structures and we believe that for us to really have a change society we must go beyond just infrastructure and that is one of the reasons why we set up the national conference, which they came up with some key recommendations, that if we implement it will move Nigeria forward.
“When some people talk about change, we are talking about moving Nigeria forward, and to move Nigeria forward, we believe that that the implementation of that report is key . Yes as a government we can work on our infrastructures like roads. But those clamouring for change, they won’t be able to bring about real change since they have refused to be part of the process that would bring about the change they are shouting about.
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“Some political parties that are advocating for change I believe they don’t have the blue print for the development of this country as enunciated in the report of the national conference. And they cannot give out what they don’t have because they boycotted the conference and I don’t see how they will implement that report and if they will not implement that report, where will they take this country to?”
Jonathan said the issue of skewed political appointments against the south-west had become a major subject he had to address in the course of his interaction with the people of the zone.
He gave a commitment that the trend would be reversed in the next dispensation.
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“One of the matters that keeps cropping up is the issue of political appointments for people from the south west. I promise that in the exit dispensation whatever lapses we have, will be taken care of. We will sit down and make sure that while appointing people into offices, the south west is not short hanged in any way,” he said.
“We knew what happened that led to that skewed distribution in a way, over the period we tried to correct it and I believed because of that major problem at the beginning not caused by me, you know the reason, I believe my good brothers and sisters, my fathers and mothers from the south west let me promise you that in my second tenure, we will make sure that thing doesn’t come up at all.
“We promise that we will do our best for the whole country and south west must play roles in government so that whatever is due to the south westerners, they will surely get it, and we promise that we will do our best for our country.”
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7 comments
The joke is on the Ooni, he’s always been pro PDP, who lost Osun to APC last year. That was along with the Ife sons, Omisore and Fani-Kayode, and Jelili Adesiyan and Babatope.
It’s another nod with no bite just like that of the Falae faction of Afenifere. The far more powerful Ige faction is in the APC and have the backing of the most influential obas in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.
I don’t know why GEJ and his People Destroying Party believe that we are fools. I also don’t know why a revered Oba like the Oni continues to deceive himself that he still carries political weight or that he speaks for the Yoruba.Besides we know that our Oba is a staunch and steadfast member of the AGIP party – he will probabl endorse and bless GMB when he wins the elections. Whilst the Oba is entitled to his opinion, he does not speak for the yoruba people. In terms of implementing the conclusions of the National conference, I am shocked that the suppossed representatives went there wiith tribal and ethnic sentiments. We cannot move this nation forward when we think like that. The past leaders who moved this nation forward ddid not think in terms of ethic and tribal sentiments. They thought in terms of national development and did not set tribal agendas. I remember a time when we were first Nigerians before being a yoruba, ibo or hausa. That’s where we want to be as a nationa; that way, we move forward.
Whilst GEJ facilitated a National conference which in my opinion was largely a political move and not because of true commitment as the reports of the conference have not been implemented or even published almost 1 year after the conference ended. Now GeJ believes that he only can implement it. We all know that GEJ has no honour and seeks to serve only his own interest and those of the Locusts he surrounds himself with. Look at his government from the start. Which promise has he kept? Which important committee or probe report has he implemented. They all died a natural death. What is the assurance that he will faithfully implement the report of the national conference when he has nothing to lose after we vote him into another term? I say the chances of that is Zero. Do we believe a “leader” who talks from both sides of his mouth?
Please GEJ, face issues and the TRUTH. The Truth as the bible says, sets you free. The truth is that you are no longer trustworthy, credible or a man with a mission to build a great nation. You are a failed president into whose. Shaky, trembling and desperate hands we can not afford to place the destiny of this nations for another 4yrs. That would destroy us. We need someone who can take us back to the time when we held our heads high in the commity of nations; when nigeria was a respected force in africa and not the laughing stock of the world, when nigerians had bread on their table and the children had a future; the nigeria were you were first a nigerian and you were not defined by your tribe. For a start, we need to vote out GEJ. The only alternative today is GMB.After him comes…?
If only Jonathan knows that all those white, red blue and black sticks pointing at him have all been soaked in what he wished he knew. They say they are praying…the sticks are poisonous arrows to ensure his defeat. They say they are praying for him, they are all making incantations of evil
“INCANTATIONS OF EVIL” to Oga Jonah upon all the dollars they have collected from him, chei this na 420 not 419 from traditional rulers.
Deris GOD wooooooo…………
i pity youths of today,most expecially APC supporters,when oba of lagos endorsed Ambode,oba have spoken but when oni of ife endorsed GEJ,what do they say ………
What becomes the earlier receivers of Oni blessings for Pre-2011 political posts? They all failed & landed in the hospitals.{all —-,—–,—-&—– of the source} It was only Pressy Jo that went to GOD & got there. Now that he has choosen the path of King Saul in the Bible, I ‘m sorry ooooo.
Unfortunately,some of our obas are no longer representing us but thier pocket may oga Jona has given a cuchning effects we kabiyesi dont spend all the money remeber your subjects but i do know that you will not be allowed to suppervice our voting that day. Were these not the obas who normallh forgot thier walking staff and crown at Aso Rock then what do you expect let us all Nigerian rise up and tell the like of Jona that enough is enough! See how Nigerians are being treated overseas Shio! The chiboks girls is enough reason to chase them out of power. APC!!!!!!!!! Channnnge!