₦airaland Forum

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday publicly lamented that he was unable to make a Yoruba politician the Speaker of the House of Representatives after 2011 general elections because of the selfish agenda of some Yoruba leaders.

He spoke at the Yoruba Unity Summit with the theme: “National Development: Wither the Yoruba,” which held at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Jonathan who was the special guest of honour at the event organised by the Yoruba Unity Forum, said he recognised the Southwest as a key player in the country and was still haunted by that unfortunate incident in 2011 when his desire to repay the Yoruba for their support for him was lost.

Mulikat Akande had then vied to be Speaker of the House of Representatives but lost to Aminu Tambuwal of the Northwest because of inadequate support from her Southwestern colleagues.

Recalling the events, the President said: “I thank you all for the support in the past elections. One of the problems I faced in the National Assembly is that I felt the right thing should be done because our party, the PDP, has a formula.

“We have six geo-political zones in the country and when the President emerges from one of the geo-political zones, the Vice-President emerges from another geo-political zone, the rest core offices, the Senate President, the Speaker, Secretary to Federal Government, the chairman of the party must come from different geo-political zones.

“The idea is that, whenever we are distributing board positions and some of these appointments, whenever we are appointing ministers, all these people sit to take decisions. In that case we want all the geo-political zones to be in the inner caucus that take critical decisions.

“The last time, it was difficult for me because I insisted that the Southwest must get the Speaker. Of course, I couldn’t go through with it because some of us within the Southwest didn’t want it, based on some personal reasons. I am still suffering from that till today.

“That is one of the reasons the leaders said, this time around, we must work collectively so that whatever position is zoned to the Southwest, we should get that position. People should not rob it from us.”

He expressed his belief in one Nigeria and challenged the Yoruba to be united even as he declared that the contributions of the Southwest to national unity would always be cherished.

Jonathan also noted the significance of the Southwest in the nation’s economy as he recalled that the region, particularly Lagos and Ogun states, control 55 per cent of the economy, a reason he remains committed to providing the people with infrastructure, electricity and other resources to further boost the economy.

“With unity, we can go to the moon. The Yoruba will not be left behind,” he added.

The President noted that the Yoruba had joined the national political fray with vigour and enterprise and were never afraid of internal debate among themselves, a reason for their being in the vanguard of demand for a national conference, as had just been concluded by his administration.

He again promised to implement the recommendations of the conference although he pointed out that there were some things he could not say or do immediately, as they could be deliberately given partisan consideration by desperate politicians who “are even ready to kill.”

Also, Akande noted that the Southwest had been relegated in the political arrangement of the nation not due to any deliberate action of Jonathan but because of Yoruba disunity.

“We should support his re-election bid, and we believe that he will reward us by reinstating us to our rightful place,” she stated.

In his fiery remarks, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, urged President Jonathan not to be bothered or intimidated by former President Obasanjo’s criticisms because they are only made out of spite, which cannot be appeased.

tomakint:
Wao my 3-day ban has cost me some beautiful and well-meaning thread thank God I am back for good....my brother a big congratulations to you together we shall take Nigeria there with Jonathan. Truckpusher what saith thou?

Ahmeduana:
OLD BOY YOU READY FOR ANYBODY WEY CROSS YOU TODAY! SEMPE FOR THE GUY WEY SABI!

PrettyHausaGirl:
Lol No. Just after AGFA Photos

PrettyHausaGirl:
Wow You and Brito are close by to where I'm currently spending my holidays. *AggreyRoad*

Bowaley17:
Wed - Monday...i queued from 7am - 4pm everyday still luck no gree me register...
God punish those women leaders using one kind foolish chances 2 let their own people register...At least Mk i go collect National ID card...

xcolanto:
Weldone brotherly @op... Guard your vote with your heart and actions by voting GEJ come 2015! Don't use charms like them APC goons oh!!

Good thing you took out time to educate people and show them in pictures what the process in getting PVC are, the hustle and bustle involved. Now those in phc would be more informed thanks to a patriotic like you! Cheers mate!

omenka:
Progressives making incursion into uncharted territories. The president should keep deceiving himself thinking that the terrain is fully secured. It would look like winter in July when Akwa Ibom falls under APC!!

God bless us all.

KingAdeOluomo1:
in Olamide's Voice ..........................
Story for gods

majekdom2:
u don't understand the politics.... Abe might loose . It is better he runs for te senate which is sure , than a governorship position which is a tougher one.

rexzqcom:
@OP, what were the requirements demanded from you? Like identifications? Prove of domicile? Processing fees if any?

JackBaueress1:
I think it was moved to front page because of the pictures.
Anyway sha,its on front page already.

OrlandoOwoh:
N'aro 2015 ebe obula i hu aziza ki ga pia aka gi.

omoadeleye:
u are lucky oo, i qued 7 working days fom 5:00am till 6pm, lol, i was sstill unable to register uptill now, luck is not by side for this year be that, i felt disheartening for wasting my precious time sha.

lilflipnerd:
not that Buh bro u sef sabi say ur thread na freestyle,

Deiok:
Nah wah ooh, why dis kain tin go com dey front page. And op is that what you called crowd?. Smh.

holatin:
gonna try collecting mine tomorrow

funkybully:
GEJ votes keep swelling day by day. Haters gnashing teeth.

Comrade phokphok abeg safeguard ur PVC b4 d witches in apc misplace it for u.

Voting GEJ is a task We must accomplish.

JackBaueress1:
honestly,smh too!

nigerianvenom:
bad guy.trust PhockPhockMan na.he might have done d needful

OrlandoOwoh:
So this made front page. SMH.

nigerianvenom:
congratulation on this feat.
u are one step ahead of re electing president gej for a second term bid.
congrat once again

lilflipnerd:
This is the most useless article on Fp, Many ppl have written statements, Comments about flaws of Inec during registration n Collection. None of them enter dis fp oo

IMMUNO1:
We are waiting for APC to come and say that "the distribution of the PVC in Rivers State was frustrated by INEC" I collected my own at Woji.

NgeneUkwenu:
Ochichi jonathan Ochichi ndi mmehie! Rip!

barcanista:
Confirm knockle bros! Na the yansh me I first capture, wetin concern me and phockery?


When there is yansh there is brotherhood

Ngwakwe:
Ada Biafra, I n'acho okwu

OrlandoOwoh:
PhockPhockMan, na charter you charter that Lagos-Borokiri bus go your centre? You too much.

JackBaueress1:
So why was I tagged in this useless thread?

idumuose:
Very bitter and f.rustrated as usual.Your psyche has been bleeped and molested by the economy that it has completely beclouded your sense of decency.is Jonathan the reason behind your economic quagmire?

That you have a yellowing hair,skinny limbs,distended stomach and calloused palms is not Jonathan's fault.Jonathan isn't the person who asked you to take the vow of poverty.

Mgbo! Mgbo! Piawafu gi isi.

PhockPhockman congratulations.Use your voter's card to vote against those people who believe in using dangerous charms,amulets,talisman,magical rings,enchantments,divinations,sorcery,witchcraft, and other satanic and demonic apparatus to win elections.

PhochPhochman,use your voter's card to vote against prophets of Baal,the amorites and the Perrizites.

If you cannot survive Jonathan's presidency in the next four years,you have 2 options;

Option A : Relocate to Chad,Niger or cotonou or cameroun.I have a friend in Maradi(Niger republic) ,Kumba and Bamenda(cameroun) they are more than willing to assist you.

Optio B : You might as well end it like this guy below.What a wicked world.

Jonathan until 2019
Gej until 2019.

Aikon:
I PAID ONE THOUSAND NAIRA TO REISTER AND COLLECT MY VOTER'S CARD

I bought it !!!