 |
| * Saraki |
The ancient town of Jebba, in Moro local government area of Kwara state, penultimate week rose in song and dance to celebrate its monarch's, Oba Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara's 90th anniversary. It also launched a book, a biography of the monarch, who is the 5th Oba of Jebba.
Speaking on the occasion, Oba Adebara decried the shabby treatment being meted out to him by successive governments in the state, alleging that the treatment had, regrettably, been in collusion with the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.
He said: "I have been treated with disdain and humiliated by the state government since the era of former governor Bukola Saraki now a Senator, and to the present government over his appointment as the 5th Oba of Jebba by the then government of Mohammed Lawal, now late.
“Governor Lawal approved my appointment, he gave me letter that backed it up as the Oba of Jebba in 2003, only for the state government through the Emir of Ilorin whom I felt is not happy with my appointment to refuse to give me recognition and my entitlements since I became Oba of Jebba.
“Despite several court cases which I won, the latest being the judgment of 2014 that mandated the state government to pay my entitlements but till I speak nothing has been done”
The monarch, however, said the community had experienced peaceful coexistence since he ascended the throne. He lauded the Jebba Paper Mill Company for damming the Jebba River for the use of the community, while also hailing the support he enjoyed from the chiefs and entire community. He called on his subjects to continue to tolerate one another and remain in one accord.
In the same vein, the people of Jebba in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State have also cried out to the state government over poor state of township roads and lack of basic amenities like pipe borne water.
The community used the occasion of the celebration to draw the attention of the state government to the under utilization of the Arabic Teachers College in the community.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Asiwaju of Jebba land, Chief James Babatunde said the college has been witnessing low turnout of students despite many buildings erected there by government which is just lying fallow and unused
He called on the state government to convert the college to a higher institution of learning which he believes would make the place more vibrant.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Chief Jaiyeola Omotosho said: “Ever since the coronation of the Oba in 2003, Oba Adebara has continued to make tremendous sacrifices to foster peace and socio-economic development of Jebba and its environs despite considerable encumbrances. In recognition of the giant strides, the minimum birthday present the people of Jebba would wish for their monarch from the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is the immediate implementation of the Kwara state High Court judgment, which must of course include the full settlement of all arrears of his emoluments of 15 years and his subsequent elevation to first class status like his contemporaries. It will be a monumental atonement if the state government can make that pronouncement.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the event, Engr. Otunba Adebayo S. Daramola, dwelt extensively on the importance of Jebba as the gateway to the northern and southern parts of the country, lamenting the utter neglect the town and Oba Adebara had suffered in the hands of successive administrations in the state. He appealed to Governor Ahmed to urgently redress the situation in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.
Dignitaries at the event include Oba Abdulrasaq Afolabi, Olojoku of Ojoku, Oba Abubakar Oloyede, Onigbona of lgbona, Oba Joseph Sunday Defila, Oloreke of Oreke-Igbo, Oba Dr Abdulazeez Agboola, Oba of Agbeku, Oba Jamiu Oyebola Ibrahim, Akamayo of Amayo, Oba Abdulkadir Akano Lawal, Kobape of Amodu, Oba Kassum Issa, Oba of Labaka.
Others are Oba Titus Ajibola, Alapado of Apado, Oba Joshua Akano, Oluo of Oke-Oyi, Oba(Dr)Bamidele Alabi Adegbite, Ohoro of Shao.
The chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdulraheem Aduanigba, former deputy vice chancellor Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Saka Nuru, Mohammed Ashiru Balogun -Sanni Aba, Chief Stephen Wole-Oke, Chief Olayiwola Yunus Ayinde, Alhaji Obalowu Bello, Baale lle-Pupa.
The Afenifere Renewal Group ( ARG) led by its National President, Olawale Oshuntokun, and Chief Ayo Afolabi, National Secretary ARG with the entire Executives of ARG including members from different states of the Southwest were at the event.
0 Comments