The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on Thursday, made it explicitly clear to President Goodluck Jonathan that neither him (Adetona) nor any other monarch in Ijebuland should be expected to campaign for Jonathan in respect of the rescheduled March 28 Presidential election.
Adetona said any monarch who took the path of seeking to persuade the people to go in one way or another over the forthcoming general elections which he described as being “full of tension,” would surely bring “trouble” upon himself.
He advised the President Jonathan to sell his achievements and programmes to the Ijebus by himself, explaining that he had already told his subjects – whether Christians and Muslims, to act wisely and never to vote for corrupt politicians (ojelus).
Adetona said: “in Ijebu here, it is not possible for any Oba, not even in Ijebu, in Yorubaland, to go out and say vote for this, vote for that, that person is looking for trouble, but give them the opportunity to present their programme so that people can make up their minds on what to do.
“I think this is a very sound democratic principle and that is what I have decided to do, to give you the opportunity of meeting with thepeople.
“Once, they see you as a person, how beautiful you are, whether to engage with you or not, to listen to you and see if there are areas where we can meet, as a result, everybody congregating here, they belong to different groups.
“There are PDP member, APC member, APGA, they belong to various interests, and when they come, they get to the gate, and they shed their togas.
“In all our churches, after prayer, they pray for you, they will pray for the Governor, pray for me and all their leaders both in the mosque and churches as it is so required both in the Bible and also in the Qur’an.
“Each time I have course, occasionally to talk to our people, I have always told them, in the churches and mosques that when you are going to vote, make sure, you back your sons and daughter who will give something back to you, not the ‘Ojelus.’
“But those who will be honest with you, who knows the way of God, those are the people you should vote for, not those who will give you two three spoons and mortgage your future, it is not right.
“I am sure over the years, there has been improvement but this election is full of tension, I don’t know how it is so, why has elections never been like this, about 55 years, I have never seen any election that is full of tension and than the one we are having now, my prayer is God should guide us and make sure that there’s peace, harmony and tranquility in the country.”
Also, the Dagburewe of Idowa – Ijebu, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, who spoke on behalf of the Ijebu Traditional Council (ITC), drew the attention of Jonathan to the life -saving Mabolufon fly – over that runs across the Sagamu – Ore expressway at the Ijebu – Ode stretch of it and constructed by governor Ibikunle Amosun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oba Adekoya said the Ijebus remained very grateful to Amosun for the intervention and urged the President to quickly “reimburse” the Governor of the cost of building the bridge so that the money could also be channelled to other worthwhile projects being executed in parts of the state by his administration.
He also enlightened the President on the history of the Ijebu people in Ogun state, saying they have been around in their present location for more than 1,000 years with the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as the Supreme head.
According to him, Ijebu has always been the land of peace and harmony and made up of people reputed for commerce and industry and which has also immeasurably contributed to the development of Nigeria.
Adekoya also reminded Jonathan of the moribund Iwopin Paper Mill, a federal government project in Ogun Waterside, the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), Olokola Deep Sea Port, their long standing clamour for an Ijebu state among others and urged the President to do something about them urgently.
Adekoya said: “your Excellency, it is however germane on this epoch visit to make very few observations about the Federal presence in Ijebuland.
” it is not very pleasant that Ijebus that over the years, the paper mill has not been completed for one reason or the other in order to provide jobs for the teaming population of unemployed youths roaming the streets.”.
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