Jonathan is Marginalizing South-West, we have no Power Post in Government- Falae

Yoruba elders under the aegis of Yoruba Unity Forum have accused President Goodluck Jonathan of favouring other sections of the country to the detriment of the South-West geo-political zone in the appointment of top government officials.

The YUF said this at a press conference it addressed in Ibadan on Wednesday.

According to the elders, the marginalisation of the South-West zone in the distribution of political positions is an attempt to excise the zone out of the federation.

At the conference were Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Senator Bode Olajumoke, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Tokunbo Ajasin, Chief Olu Falae, and Chief Biola Ogundokun, among others.

The elders alleged that the President’s pattern of appointments with no consideration for the Yoruba suggested that Jonathan did not appreciate the contribution the Yoruba people made to his emergence as the president in the 2011 general election.

Falae, who spoke for the group, said the Yoruba were sidetracked in the appointment and control of the apex political offices.

He listed the topmost positions in the country as that of the President, Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Federation, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, acting President, Court of Appeal, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Head of Service of the Federation.

- Osun