Jonathan rains dollars on South-West Obas

The March 28 presidential election
has made some traditional rulers in
the South-West geopolitical zone
millions of naira richer, SUNDAY
PUNCH has learnt.
Findings show that this change of
fortunes was brought about by
President Goodluck Jonathan’s
quest for the support of the
traditional rulers and their subjects
for his re-election bid.
Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic
Party candidate, has virtually
relocated to the South-West since
the Independent National Electoral
Commission postponed the general
elections. The President has
traversed the geopolitical zone,
holding series of meetings with
traditional rulers, groups and
individuals.
Analysts have said South-West
voters might determine the
outcome of the presidential
election. As a result, the All
Progressives Congress and the PDP
are making strenuous efforts to win
the votes of the region.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the
President and his team doled out
various amounts of money in
dollars to monarchs during his
recent visits to the region. It was,
however, gathered that a few of
the traditional rulers and chiefs
turned down the money.
Competent sources disclosed to our
correspondents that a handful of
Obas received as high as $250,000
each, while the least paid were
traditional rulers of small towns
who were given $10,000 each.
Sources say the sum of money
given to each traditional ruler is
determined by a set of criteria,
which range from status and class
— whether first-class, second-class,
or mere traditional chief — to the
popularity and perceived political
clout of the monarch.
The traditional ruler of a prominent
South-West ancient city, which the
President visited was said to have
been given $250,000 (N50m) while
other traditional chiefs were given
$10, 000 (N2.2m).
A prominent lawyer, who spoke to
SUNDAY PUNCH in confidence,
alleged that each of the paramount
rulers received about $250,000
(about N50m). He, however, added
that some of the senior Obas were
expected to share the largesse
with their subordinate Obas and
chiefs.
He said, “We learnt that the Yoruba
Obas in the highest category got
$250,000, a part of which will go to
the lower Obas. Ironically, a son of
one of the prominent Obas is
contesting on the platform of the
opposition, APC. Interestingly,
when the President visited the
palace, the father dressed the son
with the same attire as the others.”
On February 21, Jonathan after
inaugurating the Olorunsogo
Power Plant 2, at Papalanto in
Ewekoro Local Government Area of
Ogun State, held a private meeting
with some prominent traditional
rulers in the state.
At the meeting were the Akarigbo
of Remoland and Chairman of the
Ogun State Traditional Council, Oba
Michael Sonariwo; Alake and the
Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba
Adedotun Gbadebo; Olowu of Owu,
Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu; Olu of
Itori, Oba Fatai Akamo; Oniro of Iro,
Oba Adebari; Olu of Owode-Egba,
Oba Kolawole Sowemimo; and
other traditional rulers, mostly
from the Ogun Central Senatorial
District.
The Awujale and paramount ruler of
Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, and
Olu of Ilaro, the Paramount Ruler of
Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle,
were absent.
Jonathan returned to Ogun State on
Thursday and paid a private visit to
the Awujale in his palace at Ijebu
Ode.
Also, three weeks ago, the
President was in Oyo State, where
he visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba
Lamidi Adeyemi, and the Soun of
Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni
Ajagungbade, in their respective
palaces.
On March 7, the President visited
the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade
Sijuwade, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, to
seek the support of the monarch
and his colleagues for his re-
election.
Apart from the Ooni, the Orangun of
Oke-Ile, Oba Adedokun Abolarin;
the Owamiran of Esa Oke, Oba Oba
Adeyemi Adeniran; the Olufi of
Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi;
Alowa of Ilowa, Oba Bukola Ali; the
Olojudo of Ido Osun, Oba Adeen
Aderemi; and monarchs from the
entire Ile-Ife region were at the
palace to receive the President.
The President, thereafter,
proceeded to Ilesa where he also
met with the Owa Obokun of
Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle
Aromolaran, another paramount
ruler. Traditional rulers from
Ijesaland were also present at the
Owa’s palace to receive the
President.
In Ekiti State, a similar scenario
played out. Jonathan met Ekiti
monarchs when he visited the state
for the PDP campaign in January, it
was learnt on Friday. About 50
traditional rulers were present at
the meeting and the President
took time to shake hands with all of
them.
A source within the PDP told our
correspondent that traditional
rulers categorised as ‘mere
traditional chiefs’ were given
$10,000 each by the President’s
aides. The monetary gift, it was
gathered, was given to “appreciate
the presence of the traditional
rulers and solicit their support for
the President’s re-election.”
Similarly, a source in the palace of a
prominent traditional ruler in one
of the South-West states, said, “It is
true that the President gave out
money to the kings. But it was not a
huge sum as speculated. Thus, the
kings should not be seen as being
bought over. Our kings are men of
good standing in the public. Their
consciences are not for sale and
could not have been bought.”
The windfall from the President is
not limited to traditional rulers
alone as groups and individuals
have also benefitted hugely from it.
The groups, which included market
women, students, professional and
ethnic groups, SUNDAY PUNCH
learnt, made between $5,000 and
$100,000 in Lagos. All the groups
that visited Jonathan at the State
House, Marina, went home richer.
The largesse however caused
rancour among some of the groups
as members accused their leaders
of short-changing them.
A member of a popular Yoruba
group that visited Jonathan in
Lagos said his group received
$50,000.
Speaking under the condition of
anonymity, he said, “We were
given $50,000 when we finished
meeting the President; but to my
surprise, our leader gave me only
$500. A lot of us are not happy with
what he did.”
The Secretary, Board of Trustees,
National Council of Traditional
Rulers in Nigeria, Oba Adedapo
Aderemi, however, told one of our
correspondents on the telephone
that he knew nothing about the
President’s largesse.
Aderemi, who is the Olojudo of Ido
Osun in Osun State, said the
monarchs did not collect any bribe,
neither were they offered.
He said, “I do not know anything
about the bribe. The President
invited us and we went to meet
him. Jonathan is our son just like
Buhari is our son. As the number
one citizen of the country, Jonathan
invited us and we honoured the
invitation.
“There is none of us who is hungry.
Obas in Nigeria are not hungry as
far as I know.”
Similarly, the Chairman, Ekiti State
Council of Traditional Rulers and
the Onitaji of Itaji, Oba Adamo
Babalola, said they (kings) did not
receive money from Jonathan at
any time.
He said, “I’m not aware. Nothing of
such happened to my knowledge. If
that happened, I was not part of it.”
In the same vein, the Ondo State
Council of Traditional Rulers said it
did not benefit from Jonathan’s
cash gift.
A member of the council, the Olufon
of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, said the
allegation was an effort to drag the
traditional council into politics and
tarnish its image.
“This kind of rumour should be
stopped. We are not politicians and
we should not be dragged into this
kind of politics.
“You have a duty to stop this kind of
rumours and protect the integrity
of the traditional institution,” he
said.
On his part, Oba Kayode Olisa, Oba
Ajowa Akoko, said he was not at the
meeting where Jonathan met with
the traditional rulers in the state.
According to him, he had travelled
out of the state and was unable to
make the appointment.
Asked if anything was sent to him
afterwards, he said, “I am not aware
if anything was given; only those
who attended will be able to
confirm what happened.”
Efforts by SUNDAY PUNCH to get the
Presidency’s reaction did not yield
any positive result on Saturday as
calls made to the telephone line of
the Special Adviser to the President
on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben
Abati, did not connect.

Stop wasting 9JA money GEj, U fail already

Na maga him be, let him pay

O mo way..na actn man .

OLOBE wrote:

Stop wasting 9JA money GEj, U fail already

non of ur business bro

onu ga ekwu

Lolz

Even if he seal naija nothing mega

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

Stop wasting 9JA money GEj, U fail already

non of ur business bro

Is our business o oga, no be our money ?

eddyvic wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

Stop wasting 9JA money GEj, U fail already

non of ur business bro

Is our business o oga, no be our money ?

ur own?

Tell him

OLOBE wrote:

Tell him

tell waiting!

Gej shud stop wasting 9ja money

OLOBE wrote:

Gej shud stop wasting 9ja money

go and stop him nah

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

eddyvic wrote:

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

Stop wasting 9JA money GEj, U fail already

non of ur business bro

Is our business o oga, no be our money ?

ur own?

Yes na, they do remove tax from my salary every month na

aneke peter chukwujekwu wrote:

OLOBE wrote:

Gej shud stop wasting 9ja money

go and stop him nah

We are about too

We are about to, just 10days to go.

9 days now.

Close!

?