OONI OF IFE's SUPPORT FOR JONATHAN's 2nd TERM COMPLICATES FROSTY RELATIONSHIP WITH AREGBESOLA

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and other Ife monarchs may be heading for a fresh showdown with the Governor of Osun State Rauf Aregbesola for backing the second term candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan. The Ooni's endorsement of President Jonathan has already heighten the frosty relationship between him and Governor Aregbesola a die hard APC chieftain, an opposition party. 

 The struggle for the soul of Osun state will no doubt be between the Ooni of Ife and Governor Aregbesola, it will now be who can deliver the state for the President. Recall the Governor and Ooni have never being in good terms, years back the governor specifically shunned the installation as Osun Chiefs of Jonathan and his wife Dame Patience Jonathan. 

 About 60 traditional rulers in Osun State and led by Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade yesterday openly endorsed the candidature of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for a second term in office.
Jonathan who was accompanied by Adamu Muazu and other chieftains of the party had visited Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran III in their palaces soliciting for blessing of the royal fathers and the people of the state for his candidature for second term in office.

Other Osun traditional rulers at the August meeting included Olufon of Ifon-Orolu, Oba Almaroful Magbagbeola, Oluresi of Iresi, Oba Sikiru Adedoyin, Olufi of Gbongan, Oba (Dr.) Adetoyese Oyeniyi, Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adeniran, Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin Aroyinkeye among others. 

Oba Sijuwade reportedly led other monarchs in praying for Jonathan, saying “by the Grace of God, you will win the race.”After soliciting for the blessing and support of the monarchs and people of the state, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II asked all the traditional rulers present to stretch their staff towards President Jonathan urging them to pray for him to succeed in the  Presidential Election saying he must not fail.