Yoruba Elders blast Minister for campaigning for Buhari

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu who was spotted few days ago wearing a cap which had the logo of the All Progressives Congress and the inscription “Continuity ‘19:
Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo on it, has come under fire for reportedly distributing President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 re-election campaign materials during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.The Minister who handed over the bag containing Buhari campaign materials to the council’s secretariat staff members for distribution, shortly before the commencement of the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari  at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, reportedly said;

 “I know that everybody will be involved, everybody will be guided and people will take decisions largely to support the President in the 2019 elections.”

However his action sparked outrage across the country as the Yoruba Council of Elders, described it as as the “height of sycophancy”.

Punch reports that the YCE secretary general, Dr. Kunle Olajide said

“I am surprised that some of our political leaders are engaged in criminal height of sycophancy completely oblivious of the mood of the people they claim to represent. People are talking about 2019 elections and 2023 presidential elections as if it is somebody’s birthright,” he said.

“People should stop taking Nigerians for granted for God’s sake. We are in the 21st century and not the 20th century. The insult is too much.

“It is unfortunate and I am sad that someone could be pre-occupied with such thought and action. When you are talking about timeliness and consideration of the plight of other persons, Yoruba stands out because we are our brother’s keeper. We are liberal and that is why we are always ready to accommodate others and sympathise with their plight.

“It is sad that a Yoruba man should be doing this. Moreover, it violates the regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission on elections. I want to consider it a rumour until the minister refutes it.”