President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday continued his nationwide consultations with traditional rulers, assuring Nigerians of plans to fully implement the report of the recently concluded national conference if re-elected.
Jonathan said this just as the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, expressed fears over the rising tension in the run-up to the general elections.
The president spoke during his visit to the Awujale in his palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State as part of his re-election campaign tours.
He stated that his administration was ready to fully implement the report of the national conference. He, however, said the promise was realisable only if Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was able to control the two chambers of the National Assembly in the next dispensation.
Jonathan said: We have listened to the address presented, the key issues mentioned, that is why I collected the address. One key thing about the address is the issue of state creation and other related issues that were discussed by the national conference, which the national chairman did mention. We promise that we will implement the national conference document to the letter.
The president also said he was at the Awujale’s palace to inform the royal father of his re-election bid and to receive his blessings.
Responding, the Awujale said it was impossible for any royal father in Ijebuland and the entire Yorubaland to campaign for any candidate.
He said any traditional ruler who attempted to do that would be courting trouble, because they were expected to play the role of father to everybody irrespective of their political leaning.
“Here in Ijebu, it is not possible for any oba, not even in Ijebu alone, in Yorubaland, to go out and say vote for this, vote for that; that person is looking for trouble. But we give them the opportunity to present their programmes so that people can make up their minds on what to do,” he said.
