The Yoruba people in the southwest zone of the country yesterday endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for second term urging him to help the zone recover its political and social values.
This resolve was reached at the Yoruba Unity Summit organised by the committee on Yoruba Progress, Southwest held at the Oduduwa Hall of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The summit which was attended by President Jonathan, the National chairman of the People Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu as well as foremost traditional rulers and leaders of the Yoruba race unanimously bestowed its mandates on President Jonathan in the 2015 general election.
Speaking at the event, President Jonathan appreciated his endorsement noting that the Yoruba has continue to be at the edge and has contributed to the building blocks that form the Nigeria edifice.
President Jonathan who pledged to implement the recommendations of the concluded National conference stated that there was no way the southwest would be left behind.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade who led other traditional rulers in the southwest noted that the Yorubas were in the forefront of the country’s polity until the spirit of greed crept into the tribe thus causing her political “misfortunes.”
According to the monarch, “How did we come to this? The Yoruba were in the forefront. We must remind ourselves that some of these woes are self inflicted and we have never even believed that we could always talk to ourselves on these lapses and how rectification could be achieved in a situation where our sons and daughters would see themselves as coming from one big family and conquer the spirit of greed.”
Oba Sijuwade who said that various projects have been abandoned by the President Jonathan’s administration in the southwest beckoned on him to see to their completion.
He however reiterated the Yoruba’s commitment to seeing that President Jonathan wins next year’s election in order to help in re-shaping the geo-political zone.
Among the dignitaries at the event were the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, the Gubernatorial Aspirant of the PDP in Osun state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, members of the National Assembly among other notable leaders that are of Yoruba race.
