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.