Date: 2020-05-17

Elders of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State have asked to quit the Ilorin Emirate Council.

Reacting to a statement attributed to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, in which he allegedly cautioned Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq against the elevation of the Ohoro of Shao and Oba of Jebba as traditional chiefs, the Moro Concerned Elders Movement told the government to ignore the warning.

The Ilorin Emirate Council in a statement by the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Woru Mohammed, on May 8 cautioned the state government against acceding to the request for the elevation of the traditional chiefs.

The statement read, "The council reminded the government of the fact that all traditional chiefs in the five local government areas (Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Asa and Moro) that make up the Ilorin Emirate are lesser chiefs under the Emir of Ilorin.

"Unless the 1999 Constitution is amended, all 774 local governments including Moro shall continue to remain where they are despite their political religion and tribal differences."

However, MOCEM in a statement by Alhaji Isiaka Jimoh (President), Dr Bolaji Afolabi (General Secretary) and Chief Sunday Oyebiyi (Director of Publicity) said, "We hereby plead with the dynamic government of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to totally ignore the "caution" of the Ilorin Emirate Council through Saliu Mohammed, because it is anti-people and unconstitutional."

They appealed to the government "to implement immediately its White Paper of December 17, 1987 which abolishes the appointment of District Heads for the Moro LGA from Ilorin and which henceforth directs that such appointments be made from among the indigenes of local government area.

"Immediate implementation of the various court judgments in favour of Moro LGA on the traditional Institution such as the judgments on suit No KWS/231/894 of 22/10/1997 delivered by Justice Afolabi Ibiwoye as well as that of Justice Oluyemisi Ajayi."

"Immediate remedy to the degrading injustice done to Moro LGA by first restoring the Ohoro of Shao and Oba of Jebba to their pre-1984 status and subsequent elevation to first class status to meet up with their counterparts like Olusin of Isin, Olupako of Share, Olosi of Osi etc, while the Moro Local Government Traditional Council should be created to be made up of our Traditional rulers like other parts of Kwara State."