Ooni, Alaafin, PDP governors to Nigerians: Stop Obasanjo bashing

[Ogi]

http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dyn...e.asp?id=57749

Ooni, Alaafin, PDP governors to Nigerians: Stop Obasanjo bashing 2/8/2008

JosephOkwuofu


Governors of five South West states and traditional rulers in the region yesterday rose in stout defence of their kinsman and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

They jointly flayed the current spate of criticism of the former president and also frowned at the continued bickering among Yoruba over the struggle for the leadership of the region.

After a five-hour meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, they warned that it would no longer be acceptable by the Yoruba for former President Obasanjo's name to be dragged in the mud in the name of criticism, noting that in Nigeria today, the former president has become the butt of wicked jokes and an object of ridicule.

The meeting said there was no justification for the continued demonising of the former president who they said did his best for the country during the eight years of his administration (May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007).

The former president's name has been mentioned in several public hearings conducted by the National Assembly. The Hon. Ndudi Elumelu-led House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel, for instance, invited the former President over alleged wasteful spending in the power sector from 1999 to 2007 in which about $16 billion was sunk even though most parts of the country are still in darkness.

Obasanjo sent a written response absolving himself of blame.

He is also linked with allegations of malfeasance in the oil sector having been substantive Petroleum Minister in his administration.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Governor of Osun state , Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said the essence of the meeting was to summon a conference involving the political leadership of the South-West together with the traditional institution to commence the re-engineering and enforcement of total unity within the Yoruba nation.

He stated that the focus of the meeting was to bring unity and progress in Yorubaland, stressing that "our resolution is that we will continue to remain united so that the Yoruba nation will continue to be relevant in the scheme of things within Nigeria."

Present at the meeting were the chairmen of Council of Obas and Chiefs in five South West states; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (Oyo), Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, (Osun), Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo Adedotun (Ogun), Deji of Akure, Oba Adepoju Adesina (Ondo) and Alaye of Efon Alaye, Oba Immanuel Adejare (Ekiti).

Also present were governors of the five South West states; Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Prince Oyinlola (Osun), Engr. Segun Oni (Ekiti), Dr. Olusegun Agagu (Ondo), and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ogun).

Others were Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, convener of the World Festival of Yoruba Arts and Culture, Mr. Alao Adebayo, and other members of the states' Council of Obas and Chiefs in the South West.

In addresses by the five governors at the meeting which was the first of its kind in recent time, they flayed the frequent bashing of the former President as well as the alleged castigation of leaders of the Yoruba in the media.

In a resolution, the governors and traditional rulers admitted that the former President has his own faults and short-comings during his eight-year rule. But they noted that despite his perceived excesses in some areas, "Chief Obasanjo, a prominent Yoruba son, did his best for this nation. This should be a pride to the Yoruba race."

The meeting also expressed deep concern on the lingering leadership crisis in Yorubaland, the pull down syndrome which they observed was synonymous with the Yoruba.

"We need to go back to the drawing board. We need to look back and see where our roof is leaking. This is the time to be searching for what is right and not what is wrong. All cracked walls must be cemented. We need to close ranks and put behind us the bitterness and mutual suspicion of the past," Alao-Akala said.

On the struggle for Yoruba leadership, the governors and traditional rulers expressed disappointment over recent developments which they observed has set the Yoruba against themselves, saying "we should not dissipate energy over who should be Yoruba the leader."

According to them, leadership is by command not by demand, just as they believed that a Yoruba leader would emerge naturally without feud and bloodletting.

The meeting also discussed the crisis among traditional rulers in the South-West, and wondered why each royal father cannot be happy and contented with ruling over their own domain and why some traditional rulers are still searching for elusive and mythical territorial expansion and imaginary supremacy.

They enjoined all sons and daughters of Yorubaland to eschew violence and desist from reckless comments and unnecessary in-fighting so that they can speak with one voice and restore the lost glory of the race .