President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday, March 7, 2015 visited Osun State where he met several traditional rulers including the revered Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland.
Speaking at the palace of the Ooni, President Jonathan reiterated his determination to implement the National Conference report, which he said will move the country forward.
He said: “When some people talk about change, we are talking about moving Nigeria forward, and to move Nigeria forward, we believe that that the implementation of that report is key . Yes as a government we can work on our infrastructures like roads. But those clamouring for change, they won’t be able to bring about real change since they have refused to be part of the process that would bring about the change they are shouting about.
“Some political parties that are advocating for change I believe they don’t have the blue print for the development of this country as enunciated in the report of the national conference. And they cannot give out what they don’t have because they boycotted the conference and I don’t see how they will implement that report and if they will not implement that report, where will they take this country to?”
President Jonathan also addressed the issue of unequal government appointments as claims from several quarters have it that the South Western part of the country were short-changed in the said appointments, pledging to correct whatever anomaly as noticed if re-elected.
He said: “One of the matters that keeps cropping up is the issue of political appointments for people from the south west. I promise that in the exit dispensation whatever lapses we have, will be taken care of. We will sit down and make sure that while appointing people into offices, the south west is not short hanged in any way.”
“We knew what happened that led to that skewed distribution in a way, over the period we tried to correct it and I believed because of that major problem at the beginning not caused by me, you know the reason, I believe my good brothers and sisters, my fathers and mothers from the south west let me promise you that in my second tenure, we will make sure that thing doesn’t come up at all.
“We promise that we will do our best for the whole country and south west must play roles in government so that whatever is due to the south westerners, they will surely get it, and we promise that we will do our best for our country.”
See photos from the visit to Osun State as posted on Twitter by Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media and Publicity:
Yoruba Obas praying for President Jonathan at the palace of the Ooni of Ife, March 7. #”Bi e ti wi lo ma ri.” pic.twitter.com/ZvLadWZmZF
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
President Jonathan arriving the Ooni of Ife’s palace, Saturday, for a courtesy visit. Colorful reception. pic.twitter.com/ynOuz0Q2Us — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
President Jonathan & the Ooni of Ife in Ile-Ife,Saturday, March 7. pic.twitter.com/biQVYBAmlS
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
Yoruba monarchs at the Ooni of Ife’s palace during President Jonathan’s visit, March 7. #ForwardMarchForGEJ pic.twitter.com/hD9hJKKEZt — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
President Jonathan exchanging pleasantries with royal fathers in Ile-Ife on Sat., March 7. #ForwardMarch pic.twitter.com/o38aUYNQHX
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
President Jonathan exchanging pleasantries with royal fathers in Ile-Ife on Sat., March 7. #ForwardMarch pic.twitter.com/cF7txAVwQR — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
All for the President at the Ooni of Ife’s palace, Saturday. #ForwardMarchForGEJ pic.twitter.com/VlVeAoBDts
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
#The people’s choice. Saw these guys at the Ooni of Ife’s palace. Sighted a similar duo in Abuja, Sat. #ForwardMarch pic.twitter.com/QW8Cet75lL — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
President Jonathan arriving Ilesa, Saturday for a courtesy visit to the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland. #ForwardMarchForGEJ pic.twitter.com/0YdJYrpJQu
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
President Jonathan with the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland in his palace today. #ForwardMarchForGEJ pic.twitter.com/xPfCulbGXl — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
At the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland during President Jonathan’s visit, Saturday. pic.twitter.com/zy3vQ02v3F
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
Big rally on Saturday in Ilesa to welcome President Jonathan to the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland. pic.twitter.com/XupxJCfPwa — Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
All for Jonathan. The people of Ijesaland, thank you! pic.twitter.com/PJc8rctds5
— Reuben Abati (@abati1990) March 7, 2015
