Prominent traditional rulers in Osun State have distanced themselves from the alleged dollar rain on some monarchs, following President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to solicit for royal blessings in the state recently.
The monarchs, who said their subjects are daily demanding their own share of the dollar rain, stressed that not all of them were given dollars by the president and the demand by their subjects was embarrassing.
The traditional rulers said this in a communique they signed after a meeting held at the palace of Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba Olayiwola Olawale, in Ikirun on Tuesday.
Other monarchs, who were present are Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Abioye Oluronke; Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Olabomi; Olunisa of Inisa, Oba Joseph Fadikun; Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba Rauf Olaniyan; Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Oyedare; Onirun of Oke Irun, Oba Adetoyi Adetunlurese; and the Elerin of Erin Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoleye.
Although the Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Lawal, was not physically present, the Akinrun said Oba Lawal was part of the monarchs dissociating themselves from the dollar rain.
The communique read “Of recent the press is awash with the report of endorsement of a particular presidential candidate by some traditional rulers in Osun State and the use of their beaded walking sticks to pray for him. It was also alleged that in the process, huge amount of hard currency was doled out. This has become the general talk in the public domain.
“The general impression is that all traditional rulers in Osun State without exception were involved. Consequently, our subjects have been accosting us, demanding our explanation for engaging in such act. Some of our subjects have also demanded for their own share of money we collected.
“No doubt this is an embarrassing situation to us. For this reason, we have decided to make it clear to the public that not all traditional rulers were involved in this act”.