By Steve Oni, Ilorin
In the interest of justice, equity and fair play, Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has been urged to, as a matter of urgency, correct all identifiable wrongs in the state’s traditional/chieftaincy system, particularly in Ilorin Emirate
In this regard, both the governor and state House of Assembly have therefore been enjoined to take practical steps to ensure the grading of all traditional rulers in Asa, Moro Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Ilorin West local government areas, the five worst hit local government areas in the state.
Making the call in Ilorin at the maiden Saka Adeyemi Memorial Lecture and book presentation, the Chairman of the Kwara state chapter of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Alhaji Mahmud Ba’ako decried the situation where in Ilorin Emirate Council, a single traditional ruler is cornering the five percent allocation of five local governments to the detriment of other traditional rulers that have been suppressed and oppressed all these years by the feudal system.
The lecture was entitled: ‘Emirate system in Nigeria: A case of Ilorin.’
Alhaji Ba’ako therefore enjoined the governor to “regrade the stools of
the Mogaji Aare of Ilorin; all the four Baloguns in Ilorin; the Baba
Isale of Ilorin; the Ohoro of Shao and the Oba of Jebba.
“I further implore the present governor to send an amendment bill to
the state House of Assembly so that the four traditional councils of
Asa, Moro, Ilorin East and South can retain their monthly allocations
of five percent in the respective councils. We have 16 local
government areas in the state, eleven LGAs have theirs, while the allocation of the remaining five local governments in Ilorin Emirate Council is cornered by an individual. This has continued for too long and it needs urgent redress. Time is now. This is a
corrective government, please set up separate councils of traditional
rulers in each LGA of Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Ilorin
West.”
Earlier, Convener of the event Dr Reuben Akano lamented that the
Ilorin Emirate in collusion with the Ilorin political cabal had held
all the four aforementioned local government areas by the throat.
Dr Akano, who teaches literature at the Kwara state University (KWASU)
said: “The emancipation battle which culminated in the creation
of Moro and Asa local government areas in 1976 has since assumed a
slippery dimension with the feudal lords of Ilorin Emirate in
collusion with the Ilorin political cabal holding desperately to the
apron of suppression and oppression in the name of Ilorin Emirate.
“It is their resolve not to let go off their illegal hold on the portions of the majority natives of Moro, Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South and Ilorin West local councils. The lecture shall remain a
platform for the oppressed and Feudalized or feudal ridden people of
the local government areas and in particular Moro people to engage in dialogue and as well analyse their condition of living, reexamine their status and existential pragmatics through a formal gathering as this.”
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