Kwara's Scorched Snake

By Fola Adekeye
Monday, October 13, 2003

The deposition of a Yoruba Oba in Ilorin threatens peace as youths return home en masse to fight back

Busari Alabi Alasa, the deposed Magaji Aare of Ilorin and four other Ilorin high chiefs demoted, September 20 are fighting to regain their positions. The state government said their appointment and upgrading did not follow "normal procedure" which essentially meant that it did not receive the blessing of Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, the Emir of Ilorin.

In a joint letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo last week, the chiefs insisted that their status and powers derive from the age-long tradition of the Ilorin Emirate. "Our position and status are not the creation of the Emir of Ilorin but rather they are the hereditary position of our fathers," they argued.

The letter signed by Alasa, A.L.B. Buhari, Balogun Gambari, Sulaiman Tukur, Balogun Ajikobi, Suaibu A.Mahmud, Balogun Alanamu and Saka Alesinloye, and Baba Isale, the chiefs explained that between 1903 and 1913, the colonial authority in the Northern Region graded them as second-class chiefs. "In fact, the stool of the Emir of Ilorin was not accorded similar recognition of grading until 1920," they said. The subsequent recognition of the Emir, they argued, was "occasioned by our fathers coming together to agree to making the Emir the first among equals for in our father's 'wisdom' even among ants, there must be a giant." Magaji Aare of Ilorin then became second in command to the Emir while others have their quarters within Ilorin city and territories in the emirate. That arrangement, they further insisted, was in use until Ibrahim Sulu Gambari became Emir of Ilorin. They sought the president's intervention saying the political atmosphere in Ilorin was "violence proned, if not handled with care." The withdrawal of their status and powers by the state government, they argued, was done in bad faith.

But Bukola Saraki, the state governor, insisted last week that his government acted in good faith. For instance, he said the process which made Alasa the Magaji Aare was fraught with irregularities. "Lawal gave himself the power to appoint and remove. He did it only three weeks to the election. What was he doing in three and half years that he was governor. Only God knows his motive," he said.

The appointment of Alasa is being challenged in an Ilorin high court. Ahmodu Yusuf, the head of Daudu family in the emirate and eight others are currently challenging Alasa's appointment in court. John Baiyeshea, their lawyer, said they requested the court to stop the turbaning of Alasa on the argument that the former governor did not follow existing procedure. Lawal appointed Alasa without going through the Emir of Ilorin and Yusuf and others insisted that only the Emir of Ilorin has the right to appoint a new Magaji Aare from the Afonja family. Instead, they said, the last state government requested the Emir to turban Alasa. "That is totally strange and alien to the tradition and custom of Ilorin Emirate and was designed to desecrate the highly cherished tradition of the people," they said.

The former governor reportedly disregarded their protest and performed the turbaning of Alasa on Sunday, November 11, 2002, "again contrary to the customary and traditional day of performing traditional rites for a chief and in particular the Aare which is done on a Friday."

Abdulkareem Adisa, former works and housing minister, was opposed to the promotion of the chiefs to the first class status. "Long before Lawal came on board, there was this gentleman's agreement that we had to do something to assuage the demand of the Afonja people as it relates to according more recognition to the sectional heads in Ilorin. We even brought the Emir into the picture and were yet to work out the final modalities when Lawal unilaterally elevated them as first class chiefs - in the same class with the Emir. Now, that is not acceptable. Those chiefs are always appointed by the Emir - in consultation with his council. To now put them at par with the Emir is a slap on tradition," he said.

But the Afonja Descendant Union, under Abdulkarim Kasum, its national president rose in defence of Alasa last week. The union argued that the appointment of Alasa followed the age-long and revered custom and tradition of our people, "which recognise the sacred institution of Baba Isale of Ilorin as the primary consenting authority in matters pertaining to the appointment of a new Magaji Aare on the death of the incumbent."

The union made public its protest letter to Obasanjo last week, saying the deposition was a monumental act of treachery. "We, therefore, call upon Obasanjo to intervene without further delay before the ethnic situation in Ilorin gets out of control," the union said.

It insisted that Alasa was dethroned because he is the biological father of Mohammed Alabi Lawal, immediate past Kwara State governor. "We see the development as the climax of an action plan based on a well-articulated script masterminded by the ruling Fulani dynasty in Ilorin in collaboration with the political forces opposed to former Governor Mohammed Alabi Lawal. Consequently, we have decided to continue to recognise Alhaji Busari Alabi Alasa as our authentic and legitimate Magaji Aare of Ilorin," the union argued.

Last week, more than 3,000 youths cordoned off the ancestral home of Alasa threatening to preserve his reign with the last drop of their blood. The youth leader, who pleaded anonymity, told Newswatch that his colleagues numbering about 4,000, returned home from schools and other places of residence to defend Alasa. "We are here to support our dads and mums in their war of self-determination. We are not Fulani. We are Yoruba. Magaji Aare is our Oba," he said.

Kwara State chapter of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, also rose in opposition of Alasa's dethronement last week. Through Abdulrahoof Bello, its media and publicity officer, the party appealed to Obasanjo to prevail on the state governor to rescind the deposition of Alasa and 70 other chiefs in the state. The ANPP argued that the deposition was based on ethnic motives and warned that there could be a breakdown of law and order if the decision was not reversed quickly. "The alleged deposition of the Magaji Aare of Ilorin and degrading of other traditional rulers is not only vindictive but also sadistic and smacks of misplacement of goal by the administration of Governor Bukola Saraki," the party said.

The party argued that the former governor of the state followed the due process of the law before the grading of the monarchs and also the appointment of a few others. "Among other factors considered were merit, historical background as requested by each community through application and memoranda. All these were authenticated, interviews were conducted and wide consultations were made after which the law relating to the appointment, promotion and deposition was forwarded to the state for amendment. Since the matter passed through the parliamentary procedure, everything done under it has the legal backing and should subsist in any civilised society," Kwara ANPP said.

The party may be right. Iyiola Oyedepo, a lawyer and former chief whip, Kwara State House of Assembly, condemned the deposition of Alasa. He said the same power of approval used by the former governor in appointing Alasa, was similarly exercised by him in the appointment of Olupo of Ajasse-Po in 2001; Oloro of Oro-Ago in 2001; Oloro of Oro in 2002 and Oloro of Shao in 2003. He then left a poser: "Why is this administration not revisiting all these others, if the decision of government is well-intentioned?"