Benin Oba offers royal robe to Jonathan
Posted by admin | 10 years ago | 2,852 times
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday appeared to have received an indirect endorsement for his programmes and policies; as well as for his candidature in the forthcoming 2015 Presidential election, by OmoN’ObaErediauwa, the Oba of Benin.
The traditional ruler was said to have offered the robe to the President when he (the President) paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
Erediauwa, while presenting the Red Egbeigbe attire said he often saw the President in dark-coloured attire and had to offer him the Benin’s traditional red attire. The Red Egbeigbe, is the highest Benin traditional attire worn only by Benin's princes and princesses on special occasions such as weddings. The Benin monarch also used the opportunity to congratulate the President for getting his party’s endorsement for a second term in office.
While receiving the gift, the president thanked the traditional ruler and promised to return to the palace when the campaign for his re-election begins. He told the monarch that he was in Benin to attend his party’s, (Peoples Democratic Party - PDP) sensitization rally in the South-South, geo-political zone.
It is instructive to recall that for some time now, there has been what many described as “rash of endorsement” for the President to contest the 2015 Presidential election. These endorsements have come from many quarters, especially the PDP. While the latest endorsement was by the party as a whole, there have been past endorsements from segments of the party like PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Kwara State chapter of the party, and other chapters from different other states.
Party sources, in attempts to provide explanation and support for the decision, have argued that the endorsement, to be ratified at the party’s coming National Convention in December 6, was in line with democratic practices elsewhere in the world.
For instance, they argued that endorsement of sitting presidents has always been the case in other countries such as the United States of America where the presidential system of government has been in practice for decades.
Expectedly, the endorsement has been met with criticisms and opposition, both from within and outside the party.
Readers Comments
comment(s)
No comments yet. Be the first to post comment.
