The President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has promised the traditional rulers in the country that his administration would collaborate with the National Assembly to ensure that the role were given to them in our democratic governance.

President Jonathan made the promise  at the palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade after the monarch installed the President and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan with the Chieftaincy titled of Ohun Orun and Yeye Ohun Orun of the source, saying that the role of the traditional rulers can not be quantified in the democratic experiment of the country.

The President urged the traditional rulers to enlighten and educate their subjects on the importance of the forthcoming registration exercise as part of their civic responsibilities to their fatherland.

He assured the people of the country of his administration’s  readiness to conduct free, fair, and credible polls in the 2011 general elections, adding that the monarchs should also warn their subjects against any act that perverts the conduct of hitch free election and also, encourage them to contribute meaningfully to the peace and progress of the country.

Jonathan promised that the citizens would enjoy more dividends of democracy from his administration.

Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his ability to rise above partisan sentiments and living up to his billings as a nationalist and patriot.

Addressing journalists at the Ibadan Airport, Oyo State, where he had gone to receive the President , Governor Aregbesola described the congratulatory message sent to him by the President as a sign that democracy is on course in Nigeria under his leadership.

Governor Aregbesola expressed gratitude to President Jonathan for adhering to the rule of law and tolerating a change of government in Ekiti and Osun States during his tenure.

“For the President to have consciously come out to congratulate me irrespective of his political affiliation is highly commendable and appreciated”, the Governor submitted.

Mr. Aregbesola added that the pledge of support made by President Jonathan for his administration had shown that the nation’s number one citizen “has a perfect understanding of the operations of the democratic process”, the Governor stressed.

He expressed high expectation of better times for Osun State from President Goodluck Jonathan considering the tone of his congratulatory letter to him.

As he was leaving the VIP Lounge of the Airport, Mr. Aregbesola saw pupils of Atayero Group of Schools, Ibadan who were on an excursion and went to chat with them.

The Governor asked each of the pupils what career they wanted to pursue later in life.

Virtually all the pupils told Mr. Aregbesola that they wanted to become pilots and the Governor prayed for them that they would achieve their life’s dream.

He later went to observe his first jumaat service since being sworn in as Governor at the Osogbo Central Mosque where the  congregation prayed for him.

Also, speaking after the prayer, Governor Aregbesola assured that God had beamed the light of peace, happiness and development on Osun State which he described as the beginning of good things for the Nigeria.

But new the  Osun state governor was absent from the installation of the chieftaincy titles conferred on the President Jonathan and his wife at Ife.

The reason for the Mr Aregbesola absence from the installation ceremony has not been known to our correspondent as at the time of filing this report.But  a source who spoke  under strict anonynimity explained that it was due to unfavorable security report. 

Read the official account of the story below:

JONATHAN URGES NIGERIANS TO REGISTER AND VOTE: A press release

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday urged Nigerians of voting age to  endeavour to not only register during forthcoming registration exercise to be  conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), but to also vote  during the elections in 2011.

In his acceptance remarks following the conferment on him and his wife, Dame  Patience Jonathan, of the chieftaincy titles of Ohunorun of the Source (Voice  from Heaven) and Yeye Ohunorun (Female Voice from Heaven) respectively, the  President stressed that registration was a prerequisite to voting. 

“You must first register before you vote and if you don’t register or vote, how can you get the required type of governance?” he asked.The president particularly appealed to traditional rulers to encourage their  subjects to register and vote during the elections especially “this time around  that we are totally committed to ensuring that your votes must count.”

President Jonathan who described traditional institutions in Nigeria as “quite  unique and revered,” commended the royal fathers for working hard and supporting  government to solve social problems. He pledged to work with National Assembly in order to provide proper laws for the work of traditional rulers. The president who thanked the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and his chiefs  for finding him and his wife deserving of the chieftaincy titles, said they cherished the revered honours and would work very hard through good governance so as not to “reduce the value of the titles.”The conferment of the chieftaincy titles on the president and his wife was part of the activities marking 30 years of the enthronement of the Ooni of Ife.

The President of Benin Republic, Boni Yayi and his wife; former President Olusegun Obasanjo;  the governors of Ogun and Oyo States;  Ministers, the  Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF); Head of Civil Service of  the Federation (HOCSF); members of the National Assembly; the Emirs of Kano and Zazzau were among dignitaries who witnessed the conferment.