2015: OONI, OTHERS ENDORSE JONATHAN FOR SECOND TERM

Some Yoruba elders in the south west zone of the country have expressed their unflinching support for President Goodluck Jonathan in his re-election bid urging him to help them recover their political and social values.
This resolve was reached on Friday, 28th November, 2014 at the Yoruba Unity Summit organised by the Committee on Yoruba Progress, South west held at the Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The summit which was attended by President Jonathan; the National Chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Adamu Muazu; as well as foremost traditional rulers and leaders of the Yoruba race unanimously bestowed its mandate on President Jonathan in the 2015 general election.
Speaking at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; who led other traditional rulers in the southwest noted that the Yorubas were in the forefront of the country’s polity until the spirit of greed crept into the tribe thus causing her political “misfortunes.”
“How did we come to this? The Yoruba were in the forefront. We must remind ourselves that some of these woes are self inflicted and we have never even believed that we could always talk to ourselves on these lapses and how rectification could be achieved in a situation where our sons and daughters would see themselves as coming from one big family and conquer the spirit of greed.”
The traditional ruler who said that various projects have been abandoned by the Jonathan administration in the southwest beckoned on him to see to their completion.
Oba Sijuade however reiterated the Yoruba’s commitment to seeing that President Jonathan wins next year’s election in order to help in re-shaping the geo-political zone.
Speaking, President Jonathan expressed appreciation at the endorsement saying that “the Yoruba continue to be at the edge and has contributed to the building blocks that form the Nigeria edifice.”
President Jonathan promised to implement the recommendations of the concluded National Conference saying there was no way the southwest would be left behind.
Among dignitaries that graced the event were: the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose; the PDP governorship candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; members of the National Assembly among other notable leaders that are of Yoruba race.
Dignitaries at the forum included the convener, Chief Olabode George; Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, former transport minister, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; the chairman, board of the African Newspaper of Nigeria (ANN), Chief (Mrs) H.I.D Awolowo, who was represented by Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran; Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Minister for Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Mulikat Adeola Akande.
Others were former Minister for Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi; Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, ex-minister for education, Professor Tunde Adeniran; Chief Oluwole Aina, chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; chairman of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Mr. Jide Adeniji; Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejuyigbe, the Orangun of Oke Ila Orangun, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; former governor of Ogun State, Chief Gbenga Daniel, among others.
Earlier, President Jonathan had been to the palace of Oba Sijuwade, on a courtesy call.
He was met by the Ooni, some other monarchs, palace chiefs, the first daughter of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran; stalwarts of People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-Senators Ayo Arise, Iyiola Omisore, among others.