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 election. 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 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 was determined by a set of criteria
which ranged 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 is said to
have been given $250,000 (N50m) while other
traditional chiefs were given $10, 000 (N2.2m).
A prominent Yoruba lawyer, who spoke to SUNDAY
PUNCH in confidence, confirmed 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, President 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.
President 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, separately 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.
President 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 was not limited to
traditional rulers alone as groups and individuals
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 the
sum of $50,000. Pleading 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 President
Jonathan met with the traditional rulers in the
state.
According to him, he had travelled out of the state
and was unable to meet 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.
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 election. 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 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 was determined by a set of criteria
which ranged 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 is said to
have been given $250,000 (N50m) while other
traditional chiefs were given $10, 000 (N2.2m).
A prominent Yoruba lawyer, who spoke to SUNDAY
PUNCH in confidence, confirmed 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, President 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.
President 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, separately 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.
President 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 was not limited to
traditional rulers alone as groups and individuals
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 the
sum of $50,000. Pleading 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 President
Jonathan met with the traditional rulers in the
state.
According to him, he had travelled out of the state
and was unable to meet 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.
http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-rains-
dollars-on-south-west-obas/
dollars-on-south-west-obas/
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