President Jonathan seeks Yoruba leaders support

President Goodluck Jonathan has sought the support of traditional rulers in south-west Nigeria in his second term bid, as part of efforts to win the March 28 elections.

At a meeting between the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, held in his palace, the President assured the leaders that serious efforts were being put into the revival of the power sector to make good the government’s promise to the people.

President Jonathan also said that the report of the national conference wass ready and would be implemented to the letter with the help of the National Assembly.

The high powered PDP delegation at the meeting, led by the President, included the National Chairman of the party, Mr Adamu Muazu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital, Jumoke Akinjide, Former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoroa and Senator Teslim Folarin among others.

The foremost monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, expressed gratitude for the visit and prayed for the country and President Jonathan. He expressed optimism that the people of Oyo State would support the president in the polls ahead.

Political analysts have stressed that for President Jonathan to emerge winner in the rescheduled polls, he would need to win the south-west, which is the geo-political zone with the second largest number of voters. It has over 13 million voters.

The north-west, where the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), is from, is the largest geo-political zone, with not less than 18 million registered voters.

Jonathan had earlier on Friday visited monarchs in the Ogun-Central Senatorial District, the same region where a former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who withdrew his membership of the ruling party last week, hails from on Friday.

The traditional rulers who attended the meeting with Jonathan in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, were about 20 and they were led by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. Others at the meeting were the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu.

The Awujale and the Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, and Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle were absent.

Credit: Channels