Details of What Really Happened During Jonathan’s Visit To Awujale

Following the “historic” visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Ijebu-Ode penultimate Thursday, more facts have emerged that on what transpired between the president and his campaign team and the Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
Inside sources revealed that Jonathan and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adamu Mu’azu, made statements that angered the monarch, noting that Mu’azu’s description of Ijebus as stingy people played a major role in making the Ijebu visit a fiasco.
Jonathan, the presidential candidate of the PDP was also not endorsed by the Awujale as he was told that Obas in Ijebuland cannot decide for the people who to vote.
As part of his efforts to seek re-election, Jonathan has been visiting several people, including the monarchs. He has visited the southwest repeatedly since the Independent National Electoral Commission postponed the general elections.

Penultimate Thursday, Jonathan paid a private visit to the Awujale in his palace at Ijebu Ode, with the expectation that he and other Ijebu monarchs would endorse him as was done at Ile-Ife, Osun State.\It was reported that the presidency has remained unsettled since the visit as they were shocked by what happened at the palace.
Earlier, the welcome address by the Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Y.A. Adekoya, was quoted as having told the President amid applause that: “His Excellency, the man you are sitting with now, our own Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona is 81 years old and he has spent 55 years on the throne. The man is wearing gold and you know that gold does not rust.”

It was learnt that the presidential protocol officers had tried to rush the MC, who is one of the Otunbas, but the compere bluntly told them: “I am acting on the directives of the Awujale and nobody can give another order. That is our tradition here, we don’t rush.”
Later, the Obiri of Aiyepe was invited by the master of ceremonies to introduce all the members of the Ijebu Traditional Council numbering about 45.

The atmosphere at the Lions Hall, the venue of the meeting inside the Awujale palace, instantly changed when the master of ceremonies announced that all the monarchs should move outside of the palace terrace for a group photograph with the president.
Most of the monarchs declined to go, while those who had intended to go for the picture, having read the body language of others, rejected the request. The photo session was called off as the president hurriedly left the palace.

The president, was reportedly, hugely disappointed, as the protocol officers hurriedly guided the number one citizen to his vehicle and zoomed out of the palace to catch up with another appointment at the Nigerian Stock Exchange in Lagos.
A respected monarch in Ijebuland, who was part of the meeting, disclosed that they are not hungry monarchs who can be easily bought over with the president’s dollar, and thus decided on their stand before the meeting.
The royal father revealed that what angered the Awujale was the way the president had sent an emissary to him to discuss how he would like the meeting to go.

“A prominent Ijebu businessman, whom I don’t want to mention his name, was sent to Awujale by the President to speak with him on how he would want the meeting to go, and also, to get a definite response from him. He believes that Awujale is a strong factor that can add weight to his ambition at the polls.