Prominent traditional rulers in Osun State have said that their subjects are daily demanding for their share of dollars which President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly rained on some monarchs when he visited the state.The monarchs said this in a communique they signed after a meeting held at the palace of Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olayiwola Olawale, in Ikirun on Tuesday.
The monarchs stated that not all monarchs in Osun State were given dollars by the President and demanding for a share of the largesse by their subjects was embarrassing.
Other monarchs who were present were Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Abioye Oluronke; Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Olabomi; Olunisa of Inisa, Oba Joseph Fadikun; Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba Rauf Olaniyan; Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Oyedare; Onirun of Oke Irun, Oba Adetoyi Adetunlurese; Elerin of Erin Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoleye.
Although the Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Lawal, was not physically present, the Akinrun said that his counterpart from Ede was part of the monarchs dissociating themselves from the dollar rain.
The communique read, “Of recent the press was awash with the report of an endorsement of a particular presidential candidate by some traditional rulers in Osun State and the use of their beaded walking sticks to pray for him. It was also alleged that in the process, a huge amount of hard currency was doled out. This has become the general talk in the public domain.
“The general impression is that all traditional rulers in Osun State, without exception, were involved. Consequently, our subjects have been accosting us, demanding our explanation for engaging in such an act. Some of our subjects have also demanded for their own share of money.
“No doubt, this is an embarrassing situation to us. For this reason, we have decided to make it clear to the public that not all traditional rulers were involved in this act.”
The monarchs said that they did not have any preferred candidates amongst the contestants but they were praying for the emergence of whoever would develop the country and ensure its peaceful existence.
The traditional rulers urged Nigerians to troop out on Saturday to participate in the election and to vote according to their conscience and not to allow themselves to be bought over.
They appealed to politicians to play the game according to the rules and to shun violence, saying serving the people should not be a do-or-die matter.
They said, “We want to appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission and law enforcement agents to ensure that a level playing field is provided for all. The law enforcement agents should desist from carrying out unwarranted arrests and harassment that may lead to disenfranchising anybody from exercising their rights of participating in the election.”
