Ooni of ile-ife blesses GEJ for second term

In continuation of his cam­paign for re-election for a second term, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Saturday, paid a visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, in his palace, at Ile- Ife, Osun State, to seek royal blessings from the monarch.

The president, while mak­ing some remarks, lauded Oba Sijuade for his usual courtesy in praying for him and giving him his royal blessings, which, he en­thused, had always helped him to obtain success in all his political ambitions. In response, Oba Sijuade, who is also the Osun State chairman of traditional rulers, opened a floodgate of prayers for the presi­dent, assuring him that he would surely emerge victorious in the election to do his second term. “By the special grace of God, you will win the race,” he began. “Mr President, you will sit on that seat again,” he added.

The Ooni, in another breath, called on the galaxy of obas and traditional rulers at the palace which was filled to the brim with guests from all walks of life, to rise to their feet and pray in uni­son for the president for more blessings. In response, the Obas num­bering about 70, formed a circle round the president, pointed their royal staffs towards him and prayed for him for about five minutes.

However, a couple of the obas who were given op­portunity to speak on behalf of the South-west people, appealed to the president to carry the Yor­uba people along by giving them government appointments if he returns for second term, assuring that they were ready to vote for him during the elections. They also urged him to use his good offices to complete several Federal Government projects in Osun State that are under construction but could not be completed due to the finan­cial crunch that hit the state.

In response, the president as­sured of his readiness to involve the Yoruba people in gover­nance by appointing them into crucial positions with a view to accelerating political, infra­structural and economic devel­opment in the land in the next political dispensation.

While expressing his readi­ness to help the South West people if re-elected, he pledged allegiance to Osun state which he emotionally referred to as his second home. “Osun is my second home. I feel at home here because as a young graduate, I started life here. This was where I did my NYSC programme many years ago and I enjoyed your hospi­tality,” he said passionately. “We promise to do our best, especially in the area of politi­cal appointments for the South West people. The South West will not be shortchanged in any way in my second term,” Jonathan assured. We will go beyond infrastructural develop­ment by making the South West people to be actively involved in governance to bring govern­ment closer to their people at the grassroots,” he added. While lauding his adminis­tration’s achievements so far, especially in agriculture, Jona­than disclosed that government had expended N3.3 on food importation, adding that the national food production had increased by 21 million metric tons between 2011 and 2014, a record that had exceeded the set target of 20 million metric tons set for 2015. He also pointed out that the transformation projects of his administration cut across every sector of the country’s economy and promised to in­crease the tempo when re-elect­ed in the next election.

Speaking on the last National Constitutional Conference, Jonathan promised to imple­ment all the recommendations to the fullest to move the coun­try forward.