President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday crisscrossed Oyo, Osun and Kano States for curious ‘private’ meetings with three of the nation’s top traditional rulers – the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.
Officials gave no details of the meetings other than calling them “private”.
Although, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State was on hand to personally welcome the president to Oyo State, and even accompanied him to Oyo Town, Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano did not show up to receive him.
Only their deputies – Titi Laoye-Tomori (Osun) and Abdullahi Ganduje- received the president.
The president’s helicopter landed at the Ibadan Airport around mid-day and was received by Gov Ajimobi, his deputy, Moses Alake-Adeyemo, speaker of the House of Assembly, Monaurat Sunmonu and the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jumoke Akinjide.
From Ibadan, the President flew to Ile-Ife for an appointment with the Ooni and after a brief introduction of the eminent personalities who had gathered at the palace to receive the president, he and his host, Oba Sijuwade, retired into an inner room for discussion which lasted for about 30 minutes.
He was accompanied to the palace by the Osun State deputy governor, Laoye-Tomori.
Among the people at the Ooni’s palace was a PDP governorship aspirant in the state and a native of Ife, Iyiola Omisore, who said that the president’s visit was a demonstration of his love and respect for the traditional institution.
The visitor departed the palace at 3.45 pm, declining to state his mission in the ancient town from where he headed to Oyo Town where he met with the Alaafin for 50 minutes.
Again, he did not tell reporters why he was in the town but merely said that it was a private visit which he did not expect to be reported, even as he also acknowledged that he is a public figure whose activities cannot be hidden.
The president lauded Oba Adeyemi for the peace reigning in the state and the country at large and told the crowd who had gathered in the reception hall for his arrival that he was at home to visit his father.
Jonathan said he also came to thank the people of the state and the entire Southwest people for the support given him and the PDP in the 2011 election.
He, however, refrained from making political statements, saying it could be interpreted as campaigning. “I thank not only the people of the state but the entire Southwest for the support we received in 2011. I have come to reciprocate the gesture with the hope that things will continue as well. We are one, I remain your own.”
Oba Adeyemi initially declined comments, saying his guest was on a private visit but, when asked about the possible effect of the visit on Oyo politics in 2015, the monarch said President Jonathan did not discuss politics with him and that he was only thankful for the peace reigning in the state and the country.
Oba Adeyemi said that the president enjoined him and other traditional rulers in the country to ensure that Nigerians continue to live in peace with one another.
A former governor of the state, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, who was present at the meeting told journalists that the president did the right thing by visiting the Alaafin and the Ooni of Ife.
President Jonathan had earlier travelled to Kano and was accompanied to the palace of the Emir of Kano by the Kano State deputy governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,.
He lauded the Emir for restoring peace and stability to the metropolitan city of Kano.
The visit lasted about 20 minutes, 10 of which he spent in private with the monarch.
The President told the emir and his advisers: “We are on a private visit to Kano and to wish you good health. Let me use this opportunity to thank the Emirate Council for closely partnering with the government to ensure stable security in Kano.
“We wish our Emir long life and good health. We need people like the Emir to guide and encourage the government for the good of the nation.”
In his response, the emir, Bayero reminded the president of the need to restore peace and economic stability to the country.
The emir sued for an all inclusive participation in the running of government, saying: “Peace and unity of this country is very paramount to us. We urge the government to further work hard to improve economic stability in Nigeria, adding that he wants the government to carry everybody along and ensure equal sense of belonging.”
He pledged that the emirate would continue to support the government to move the country forward and prayed for continuous political stability and economic growth of the country.
