Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Jonathan with Ogun traditional rulers

At the sidelines of the commissioning of the Olorunsogo Power Plant in Ogun State Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan held a short meeting with some traditional rulers from the state.

The monarchs were led by the Akarigbo of Remoland and Chairman of the Ogun State Traditional Council,Oba Michael Sonariwo, Alake of Egbaland,Oba (Dr.) Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo,Olowu of Owu,Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu,Olu of Itori,Oba Fatai Akamo, Oniro of Iro,Oba Adebari,Olu of Owode- Egba, Oba Sowemimo and other traditional rulers,mostly from the Ogun Central Senatorial District.

Feelers from the meeting said several monarchs raised the various attacks on the former Nigerian President,Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, after he announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party.

The Ogun monarchs told the President to caution his aides to cease further media attacks on Obasanjo.

One monarch frowned at the impromptu meeting,which he regarded a disrespect to the royal class:”we must be respected because we are not politicians and cannot just be summoned into a meeting without prior notice. Also,we down here always respect elders,we don’t say because of politics,one will not know his elders.”

The Obas at the meeting with Jonathan. Standing is Gbenga Daniel

The meeting with the Obas was attended by the former governor of the State, Gbenga Daniel, his former deputy, Alhaja Salmot Badru, Minister of Power,Prof. Chinedu Nebo,his Culture and Tourism counterpart,who is also in charge of Information Ministry,Chief Edem Duke,former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Titi Oseni – Sodunke,Senior Special Assistant,SSA to the President on Public Affairs,Doyin Okupe,Chief of Staff to the President,Brig. General Jones Arogbofa,Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State,Peter Obi,former governor of Anambra State, the PDP Governorship candidate in the State,Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka,GNI, Mr James Abiodun Olotu,MD/CEO, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited among others.

President Jonathan while at the meeting canvassed for support for his re- election and that of other PDP candidates in the State.

Also,it was gathered that the governorship candidate in the State,Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, strongly appealed to the monarchs to support his candidature as he promised to improve their welfare package if elected into the office.

President Goodluck Jonathan at the commissioning had commended the people of the State for creating an enabling environment for the project, which was started by the Obasanjo administration.

“I must commend all our people from Ogun State especially, people from the catchment areas, the trading leaders, the youth leaders, the women leaders for creating the enabling environment for this project to go on to this level that we are here today commissioning. This is your project and we shall expect your continued cooperation in safeguarding it.

“With the support we are getting from our traditional rulers, religious and youth leader, community and women leaders, we will get to where we want to go. I am pleased that I have lived up to my campaign pledges to make power sector reform a priority and a reality.

“This agenda has ushered in new capital investment and would continue to boost more investment opportunities for the private sector players, widening the horizon of our transformation agenda through the multiplier effects.

“I urge you all to support the federal government. This is the way we can improve electricity services to the entire country,”Jonathan said.

“We are also thinking about the very unpopular one, the issue of energy from atomic sources which we are working on very hard. Of course, international agencies and companies would always control you because of the implications of developing that sector. And of course, the renewed sources the Honourable Minister mentioned, the solar, that is abundant especially in the northern part of the country. We have all these potential and if we can annex all these and make sure that we get power supply to stimulate the growth of our micro enterprises.

“We are lucky as a nation because we have gas, so the mega companies and the big companies don’t depend on the national grid. They buy the gas and generate their own power but without a stable power supply. Small businesses can not survive, they can not survive by buying small generators and buying fuel and sometimes, there are hazards leading to death or destruction of properties,”the President submitted.