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.
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