-Tells Jonathan, "Call Obanikoko To Order or I Will Tame Him"
--How Obanikoro Opted Out of The Visit To the Palace
-Why the Lagos Monarch is Angry With Him


On Saturday, September 20, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in Lagos for the South-West zonal rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which took place the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Onikan. His arrival was heralded by a heavy down pour. But the president defied the rain and headed for the Iga Idugaran Palace of the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, before attending the scheduled rally at TBS.


President Jonathan was accompanied to the palace by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, top government officials and PDP stalwarts including: PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu'azu; PDP Deputy National Chairman; Uche Secondus; Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; PDP chieftain and member Board of Trustee, Chief Bode George; Chief of Staff to the President, Gen. Jones Arogbofa; Special Adviser to the President on Interparty Affairs, Sen. Ben Obi, ministers and senators, among others.


However, one man, who was conspicuously missing in the president's entourage was Senator Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro, the Minister of State for Defence. Given his status in the state, most people had expected that Obanikoro would lead the president's entourage to Oba Akiolu's palace. Invariably, some of the PDP stalwarts were reported to have wondered why he opted out of the visit to Iga Idugaran.


The ELITES gathered that Obanikoro opted out of the president's entourage because he feared being humiliated by the Lagos monarch, since he is not in his good book. Oba Akiolu is said to have become contemptuous of Obanikoro, after various reports got to him that he had been using soldiers and political thugs to harass people in the state, ahead of the 2015 general election. Sources disclosed that the no-nonsense monarch, had on several occasions, sent strong-worded warnings to Obanikoro to desist from flexing his political muscle and harassing people. But such warnings were reportedly ignored.


Invariably, the president's visit was said to have provided Oba
Akiolu the opportunity to vent his anger over Obanikoro's conduct. After the usual exchange of pleasantries and chit- chats had been done with, Oba Akiolu was reported to have articulated his grievances with Obanikoro to President Jonathan. Sources who were at the meeting disclosed to The ELITES that the Lagos monarch used derogatory terms to describe the 60-year old controversial minister and his activities within the state. He was reported to have asked the president to call Obanikoro to order or he would be forced to take some actions to tame him.


The President who had all the while, listened to Oba Akiolu with rapt attention, was reported to have become very displeased with the report he got from the Lagos monarch. This was said to have soured his usual bubbly mood till he departed for Abuja after the rally.

Posted by Abeke Olabode

smartchoice: Akiolu should either contest or keep mute

fkaz:
Sources disclosed that the no-nonsense monarch, had on several occasions, sent strong-worded warnings to Obanikoro to desist from flexing his political muscle and harassing people. But such warnings were reportedly ignored.