The people of Jebba, Moro Local Government area of Kwara State have decried the alleged non-payment of the salaries and personal emoluments of HRH Oba Alhaji Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara, Oba of Jebba by the Kwara State Government for the past 2l years.
Briefing newsmen in Jebba, Moro Local Government area of Kwara State,
Asiwaju of Jebbaland, Chief James Akano Babatunde, Mr Abdulkareem Yusuf, President, Jebba Descendents Union, High Chief Jaiyeola Omotosho Easa of Jebbaland who made the call on behalf ofJebba Community said “HRH Oba Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara was appointed the Oba of Jebba, of 3rd Class status, on 16th May, 2003 by the then Executive Governor of Kwara State Late Alhaji Muhammed Alabi Lawal. Earlier in 1983, the stool of the Oba of Jebba was graded 3rd class by late Governor Adamu Attah. The grading was however withdrawn in 1984 by the military regime of late Group Captain S. A. Latinwo, ostensibly to please the feudal lords. Again in 2002, Late Alhaji
Muhammed Alabi Lawal restored the grading of the Oba of Jebba and
subsequently appointed the incumbent monarch when the stool became vacant,
only for Dr. Bukola Saraki to withdraw it again, upon his assumption of office
Governor of Kwara State, to appease the feudal lords.
On that occasion, the Kwara State Government found it difficult to comply
with its own laid down rules regarding the appointment, discipline and deposition of traditional chiefs, and chose to resort to arm-twisting which the Oba of Jebba resisted. Consequently, the Oba was arraigned in court in Suit No. KWS/2c/2009
- The State vs Alh. Abdulkadir Adebara on trumped-up charge of illegally
parading himself as an Oba, and was hounded into prison like a common criminal for 19 days before granting him bail. After a trial that lasted 8 years, Hon. Justice Hannah Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court on 29th January, 2014 discharged and acquitted the Oba of any wrong doing. The Court upheld the Oba’s appointment and grading as a 3rd Class Traditional Ruler as legal, valid and subsisting. All efforts by the Kwara State Government to appeal the judgement were futile.
“Ever since the aforementioned judgement, several letters have been written to both the past and present Governors for the implementation of the court judgement, starting with the payment of all withheld salaries and emoluments, all to no avail.
“The last straw that broke the camel’s back and which necessitated this Press
Conference is the Oba of Jebba’s letter of appeal to His Excellency, Governor
AbdulRahman AbdulRazag Ref. HRH/OBJB/S.P.GOV/8/2023 dated 3rd October, 2023 requesting for the payment of his personal emoluments and the implementation of the Court judgement. The Governor referred the letter to the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who also sought the legal advice of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, which advice was promptly given to the effect that the salaries and emoluments of
the Oba should be paid. Since the receipt of the legal advice, the Commissioner
for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has failed/refused to revert back to the Governor while the subject file has suddenly disappeared from circulation.
Even the reminder written by HRH the Oba of Jebba Ref.
HRH/OBJB/S.P/GOV/12/2023 dated 18th December 2023 on the subject matter has had no effect. We have strong reasons to believe that some officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in cahoots with one or two traditional rulers are out to frustrate the payment of the accumulated salaries and
allowances of our Monarch. These traditional rulers had vowed that as long as they live, the Oba of Jebba shall not earn any salary. That perhaps is their second worst option having failed woefully to dethrone the Oba of Jebba through the malicious criminal charge. They just find it difficult to accept the reality of a graded traditional ruler in Moro Local Government -a matter already settled by law in Suit KWS/231/89 – Saka Adeyerni & Ors Vs Alh. Laaro Isale Oja & Ors on
22d October, 1997 in a judgement delivered by Hon. Justice J. A. Ibiwoye of the Kwara State High Court to the effect that “Moro Local Government (where Jebba situates) is not within the llorin Emirate Council.” We are convinced that some disgruntled elements are out to sabotage the good intention of the Governor.
We therefore request Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to direct his
searchlight on the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs by
questioning the Hon. Commissioner over his role in this subterfuge.
As a corollary to the above, we further implore the Governor to please
implement in full the two aforementioned court judgements through: the immediate constitution of a separate Traditional Council
for Moro Local Government;
the immediate upgrading of the stool of Oba of Jebba to 1st Class status in line with his contemporaries of 1983 e.g.
Elese of Igbaja, Olosi of Osi, Olupako of Share, Etsu Tsaragi
etc. Even stools that were not graded by 1983 are now 1st Class e.g. Emir of Okuta, Emir of Yashikira, Emir of Ilesha
Baruba etc., in the interest of justice, equity and fairness.
it is our prayer that Kwara
State will continue to progress in peace and unity where no one will be oppressed”.
