LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TOWARDS AVERTING CRISIS IN ILORIN

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA TOWARDS AVERTING CRISIS IN ILORIN

The cornerstone of President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promises and APC manifestoes is fight against corruption. It has been his government’s pursuit since assumption of office. His person and government earn credibility through it and attracts big economic powers’ support. I do not think or expect his fight against corruption to be limited to certain space or strata of the system but he should beam his searchlight on all levels and organs of government, formal or informal that affect or influence government and attract government spending.

General Sani Abacha’s government instituted a policy , which is being sustained by successive administrations that allows traditional rulers or institution five percent of monthly Federal allocations through the local government from the Federation Account Successive administrations in Kwara State have not reneged on the monthly release of five percent of local government allocation to each local government traditional council via their respective local government authority despite the state/local government joint account system.

Kwara State consists of 16 local government areas, five of which fall within the obnoxious Ilorin emirate, they are Asa, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Ilorin West and Moro Local Government Areas. The first four LGAs form the Kwara Central Senatorial District which produced the Senate President, in person of Senator Bukola Saraki, while the last, Moro LG was lumped with Kwara North Senatorial District including Nupe and Baruba. Moro Local Government people are disadvantaged Yoruba, they can not produce a House of Representatives member not to talk of becoming a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Emir of Ilorin, by his imperial power gets the five percent monthly deduction of local government allocation of the five local governments mentioned taking millions of naira. Most of the traditional rulers in the five local governments numbering hundreds are Yoruba, subjected to Fulani emirate domination and subjugation. These Yoruba rulers are paid stipends from the local government ranging between 15,000 and 20,000 and many are owed more than four month entitlement.

It should be noted that the Emir of Ilorin is the only Graded Chief in the whole five local governments made up of mostly Yoruba Chiefs except the Emir.

President Buhari should compel Kwara State Government and the Senate President to probe Emir’s five percent deductions and help to ensure the overdue recognition of the Yoruba chiefs who own the land.

Sheikh AbdulRaheem Aduanigba

Chief imam Yoruba, Ilorin, kwara state.

A GLANCE HISTORY OF ILORIN AND THEIR IMAMS

CELEBRATING YORUBA, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

ARC. MUYIWA BOLA IGE, CHIEF IMAM YORUBA OF ILORIN, CHAIRMAN AFENIFERE RENEWAL GROUP, DR. JOEL OLAROGUN AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN.

THE CHIEF IMAM YORUBA ILORIN, CHAIRMAN YORUBA ACADEMY DR. ADEOLA ADEAGBO, WITH OBA TITUS AJIBOLA, ALAPADO OF APADO ILORIN, OBA JOSHUA AJAO, OLUO OF OKE OYI ILORIN EAST, KWARA STATE, AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN.

OBA ABDULKADIR ALABI ADEBARA OBA OF JEBBA LAND, CHIEF IMAM YORUBA OF ILORIN, SHEIKH ABDULRAHEEM ADUANIGBA , CHIEF YAKUBU EKUNDAYO AYODELE, AND GBOBA NIYI OF JEBBA AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN.

CHIEF SEGUN ODEGBAMI (MON) CHAIRMAN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, CHIEF IMAM YORUBA OF ILORIN AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN.

Chief Imam Yoruba: Saraki And The Secret Of Ilorin: The Any Hope For Better Nigeria _ Sahara Reporters

Saraki And The Secret Of Ilorin: The Any Hope For Better Nigeria? 

 

Adolf Hitler (1899-1945), the instigator of World War II, driven by an expansionist agenda, plunged the world into a war which consequently depleted German power, and his country became detestable to the comity of nations. The scenario can be likened with Dr. Bukola Saraki running battle with corruption charges and rebellion to the ruling party/the Presidency, which may adversely affect Kwara State and her citizens in apportioning Federal largesse and opportunities.  

Dr. Olusola Saraki, the late father of the Senate President Bukola Saraki, was the Second Republic Senate Leader and influential personality in the then ruling National Party of Nigeria, NPN-led Federal Government. The power tussle within the party turned Kwara State into a battleground in a war of supremacy between Dr. Saraki and power brokers within NPN. When two elephants fight, the grass suffers! 

Also, the Buhari/Idiagbon military regime was derided and maligned by Saraki loyalists and their traditional backers because of the incarceration of Dr. Olusola Saraki along with other ousted public office holders.

General Tunde Idiagbon, being an Ilorin man, was expected to spare Dr. Saraki from the ignominy of detention. Sarakites and Ilorin Emirate elements organized a prayer to oust the Buhari/Idiagbon government. The overthrow of the regime was openly celebrated by the Ilorin establishment and Saraki surrogates.

History seems to be repeating itself with the Senate President Bukola Saraki rebellion against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the palace coup he staged to become Senate President.

The Saraki dynasty backed by the Ilorin Emirate establishment has always been averse to any progressive ideology/government or any developmental drive in the State and Nigeria. The Emir of Ilorin is always on the same page with Dr. Bukola Saraki on any national issue.

A number of progressive-minded Kwarans and liberation activists have gone to the great beyond in efforts to salvage Kwara from the claws of the dreaded Saraki dynasty and the Emirate overlords. They include:

1.      Alhaji Amuda Gobrir
2.     Chief J.S. Olawoyin
3.     Chief J.G. Ekunrin
4.     Alhaji Sule Maito
5.     Alhaji Adebimpe Oniyeye
6.     Alhaji Buhari Edun
7.     Alhaji Ibrahim Laaro
8.     Alhaji Akanbi Oniyangi
9.     Alhaji Babatunde Kasum
10.   Gen. Tunde Idiagbon
11.   Gen. Abdulkareem Adisa
12.   Gov. Mohammed Alabi Lawal
13.   Muhammed Ali Olukade

The surviving veterans of the liberation struggle in Kwara are living in penury, deprivation, alienation and fear; courtesy of the annihilating policy agenda of the Saraki-installed government and the Emirate establishment.

The worst hit are the traditional rulers in the five local governments of the Ilorin Emirate (mostly Yoruba monarchs), who were denied government recognition and grading by successive regimes. Most of these towns and villages predated Ilorin with age-old traditional institutions. Saraki’s political domination sustains this traditional/ethnic suppression and subjugation. It should be noted that the Emir of Ilorin remains the only graded monarch in the whole five local government of the Ilorin Emirate – comprising hundreds of towns and villages.

The chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin is the only first ranking Imam out of the four recognized ethnically based Imams not recognized by the religious setting. The foremost Imams are Imam Fulani, Imam Imale (Mali), Imam Gambari (Hausa), and Imam Yoruba; who are denied rights and benefits.

President Muhammadu Buhari should beam his anti-corruption searchlight to Ilorin Emirate Council finances. The Emir has been cornering the five percent local government allocation deductions for the traditional rulers of the five Local Government Areas of Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South since Gen. Abacha approved the deductions.

The President should not restrict his anti-corruption fight to the political class alone, but be extended to the traditional institutions and other strata of the society.

In conclusion, Kwarans should not be made to suffer for Dr. Bukola Saraki’s undoing. Kwara needs to be unbounded.

Shaikh AbdulRaheem Aduranigba
Chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin

Photo Speaks:The Chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin and Some Dignitatries

Chief Imam Yoruba in the middle flank by his friends and in-laws,  Scottish couple@ an occasion in UK

L-R: the world renowned Ifa Priest, Chief Yemi Elebuibon, Chief Imam Yoruba and Pastor Oloyin Ila, Osun State

L-R: Hon. Minister of Information & Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, Chief Imam and a friend

Chief Imam Delivering Lecture At Lagos International Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Yemisi Ransom Kuti and Chief Imam At an Event

Chief Imam and The First Nigeria Chief of Defense, General Alani Akinrinade