Ibadan – The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday in Ibadan met with prominent traditional rulers of the Yoruba speaking people from Ekiti, Lagos, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States
The meeting presided over by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Also at the meeting are Orangun of Oke Ila , Oba Adedokun Abolarinwa; Olugbo of Ugbo, Oba Fedric Akinruntan; Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo; Olugbon of Orile-Igbon , Oba Francis Olusola Alao and Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, Oba Saheed Ademola among others.
A communique at the end of the meeting by the Director General of Conscience of Yoruba Nation, Abagun Kole Omololu, stated that the royal fathers expressed satisfaction with the briefings of Tinubu on his aspiration, acknowledging Tinubu’s solid democratic credentials and unwavering commitment to the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
The traditional rulers present at the meeting acknowledged Tinubu’s solid democratic credentials and unwavering commitment to the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Director General of Conscience of Yoruba Nation, Abagun Kole Omololu, the royal fathers pledged their support for the success of the elections.
They urged the people to exercise their civic duties peacefully to engender a desired change in the country.
The monarchs, therefore, affirmed the preeminent qualification of Tinubu for the highest office in Nigeria.
They also affirmed their faith and support for Nigeria’s unity, peace, prosperity and progress and pledged to support the democratic process based on free choices according to universal adult suffrage freely exercised by the people.
Meanwhile, the monarchs expressed concern about the recent hardship suffered by the people due to perennial fuel scarcity and the naira redesign policy.
They called for “more humane handling of these challenges to free the people from high- handedness, poverty and want.”
“To this end, the traditional rulers appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies and other institutions involved in the general elections to support and uphold the right of every Nigerian to freely cast their vote without fear or hindrance to guarantee the sanctity of the electoral process,” the communique read.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has finally endorsed that candidature of the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin.
It will be recalled that after the governorship primary, which Senator Folarin emerged the Oyo state candidate of the APC, Tinubu told him, he should go and appeal to the aggrieved members before he would come back and endorse him.
But on Thursday, when Tinubu came to Ibadan, the Oyo state capital for presidential campaign rally, he finally raised the hand of Senator Folarin and handed over the party’s flag to him at the ancient Mapo Hall.
Tinubu was accompanied by the former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Speaker of Federal House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Speaker House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole.
Former governors Ekiti and Osun respectively, Kayode Fayemi and Gboyega Oyetola and other chieftains of the party.
Earlier before before arrived at Mapo Hall, Tinubu met with the governor of the state, Engr Seyi Makinde.
He also met with Yoruba Obas behind closed-door in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
