Students boo Jonathan in Osun

President Good luck Jonathan has assured the people of the South Western part of Nigeria that they would not be left behind in the scheme of things when re-elected in the 2015 general elections.

The President stated this on Friday while addressing South West leaders at the Yoruba Unity Summit held at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo Uni­versity, Ile-Ife, Osun State, where protesting students booed him.

The theme of the pro­gramme was: “Nigeria’s De­velopment: Whither The Yoruba?”

President Jonathan, who was accompanied by the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Par­ty, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, some ministers and members of the National Assembly, described the South West as a key part of Nigeria, which his adminis­tration must work with.

According to him, the contributions of Yoruba people to nation building were enormous, hence the need for them to embrace love, unity and understand­ing to overcome all the chal­lenges facing the country.

The President also as­sured Nigerians that the recommendations of the re­cently conducted National Conference would be imple­mented to the letter as and when due.

While also appreciating the elders and the traditional rulers in the South West for their support for his govern­ment since inception, the President promised to ac­cord them equal treatment along with other geopoliti­cal zones of the country.

In another development, a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, while delivering a paper on the topic: “Unity of Yoruba Nation,” noted that the jour­ney of Jonathan into the Presidency was not a mistake.

Babatope, therefore, assured him of Yoruba peo­ple’s support with a view to ensuring that the region would not be deprived of its position.

Former Chairman of the Nigeria Port Authority, Chief Bode George, in his own remarks, said Yoruba people could not afford to be going in different direc­tions, hence the need to manage their dispute with civility.

In their goodwill messag­es, the Orangun Of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; Chief Olu Falae; Governor Ayodele Fayose; Hon. Mu­likat Akande Adeola and Senator Femi Okurounmu urged the President not to be distracted by comments and actions of some people against his administration.

In attendance were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran; academics; captains of industries; and mem­bers of the PDP, ­among others.

Meanwhile, students of the Obafemi Awolowo Uni­versity, Ile-Ife booed the President when he was go­ing out of the campus.

They variously condemned his government, lamenting that his administration does not favour the education sector.

They also lamented his in­ability to rescue the Chibok schoolgirls from the shackles of Boko Haram insurgents.

Attempts to stone him, were, however, foiled by the security personnel, even as they blocked the road in an attempt to stop him from go­ing out.

The protest was fuelled by the tight security which denied the students access to the school, especially because they were writing exams.