Upgrade our monarch, pay his emoluments, Jebba community begs Kwara govt

Traditional ruler of Jebba town in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara, has begged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to restore his grade as a traditional ruler.

Speaking to journalists at his palace in Jebba, the 101 year-old monarch also begged the government over alleged unpaid salaries and personal emoluments for the past 21 years.

Oba Adebara, who was awarded Third Class grade by the government of Alhaji Mohammed Lawal on May 16, 2003, had his grade withdrawn by subsequent administrations.

Speaking on behalf of Jebba community, traditional chiefs, led by the Eesa of Jebba, Chief Jaiyeola Omotosho, the Asiwaju of Jebba, Chief James Akano Babatunde and the president, Jebba Descendants Union (JDU), Mr Abdulkareem Yusuf, said the legal advice given by Governor Abdulrazaq to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to effect payment and restoration of the grade was not obeyed.

“Oba Adebara was appointed as a third class status on May 16, 2003, by the then Governor Muhammed Lawal. Earlier in 1983, the stool of Oba of Jebba was graded third class by the late Governor Adamu Attah. The grading was, however, withdrawn in 1984 by the regime of the late Group Captain S. A. Latinwo, ostensibly to please the feudal lords. Again in 2002, the late Governor Lawal restored the grading and subsequently appointed the incumbent monarch when the stool became vacant, only for Dr. Bukola Saraki to withdraw it again immediately he assumed office as the state governor in 2003 so as to appease the feudal lords,” the chiefs said.

The people also asked Governor Abdulrazaq to direct his searchlight on the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by questioning the commissioner over his role.

“Even the reminder written by the Oba of Jebba with Ref. HRH/OBJB/S.P/GOV/12/2023 dated December 18, 2023, on the subject matter has no effect. We have reasons to believe that some officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are cohorts with some traditional rulers to frustrate the payment of the accumulated salaries and allowances of our monarch,” the people said.

The Jebba community, therefore, implored the governor to implement the two previous court judgments through: “The immediate constitution of a separate traditional council for Moro Local Government Area.

“The immediate upgrading of the stool of Oba of Jebba to First Class status in line with his contemporaries of 1983, such as the Elese of Igbaja, the Olosi of Osi, the Olupako of Share, the Etsu Tsaragi, among others.”

Nigerian Tribune gathered that stools that were not graded in 1983 had now been upgraded to a First Class status such as the Emir of Okuta, the Emir of Yashikira, the Emir of Ilesha Baruba and others in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.