…contending ruling houses mull litigation
By Mumini Abdulkareem
Following the death of the former Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar on the 19th of March, 2019, the appointment of his son, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Bologi as the new monarch has been characterised by highwired intrigues and permutations among contending forces in the community.
Bologi, 38, and a staff of Nigerian Customs Service, is the first son of the late Etsu of the Baba Bologi ruling house.
The state government in a letter sighted by this reporter last night dated April 18, 2019 with the number MLGCA/CHA/51/S.1/Vol TI/26 and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Alhaji Saidu Habeeb, titled approval of appointment/grading as 1st class chief conveyed the appointment to the new Etsu.
The appointment, according to the letter, was premised upon section S3 and 5 of Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law Cap C9 laws of Kwara State 2016 and took effect from April 16, 2018.
It also added that “it is expected that the appointment would enhance your performance in the discharge of royal responsibilities with greater commitment and loyalty “.
But the choice of the new Etsu was however a subject of serious plotting and scheming among the ruling houses in Patigi, National Pilot can report.
The contentious aspect was that the lineage of the late Etsu among the ruling families had ruled for over four decades and there was need for a change to guide against the others being “buried alive”, a source said.
While the issue raged, series of meetings were scheduled among the five kingmakers, Patigi elders and political leaders of the community.
Most of the meetings were boycotted by some of the stakeholders who were shuttling between Patigi, Ilorin and other parts of the state to lobby and mount pressure on those in high places in the state over the matter.
Among the over 30 princes that submitted applications for the stool, three were reportedly shortlisted from the three ruling houses viz Etsu Idris Gana (first), Etsu Muazu Yissa and Etsu Usman Kpatako.
They included the Chairman, Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA), Engr Usman Baba Jibril, former treasurer of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), Abdullahi Muhammed Muazu (Babako) and Alhaji Muhammadu Lawal Majiya, a former education officer in Sokoto and Niger states.
However, other forces favoured the emergence of the son of the departed Etsu.
Another expanded “consultative” meeting to find solution to the logjam chaired by the Waziri of Patigi and husband of the former minister of Education, Alhaji Usman Ndalolo in Patigi also failed to achieve the desired harmonisation of positions by the contending ruling houses as it was also boycotted by some key stakeholders.
It was while awaiting the new date fixed for a final round of meeting that the new Etsu was announced, investigation by this reporter showed.
Although, Alhaji Ndalolo, who spoke at the end of the consultative meeting held at the council secretariat, Patigi, noted that they will resist any attempt to go against the choice of the people, he however told National Pilot, last night that the announcement of the new Etsu has laid any other concern about the issue in the council to rest.
In a telephone chat last night, Ndalolo told this medium that, “When such things (regarding his announcement) happens, we know it is from God and you don’t go beyond that again otherwise as a Muslim. “Why did God do this is what we should ask?
Speaking further, he said, “Nothing can take place without the will of God”.
Some of the indigenes who also spoke on the issue from Patigi, last night, said following the announcement, the community has accepted the decision but the other ruling houses which lost out are already preparing for litigation over the issue.
One of the princes who also submitted applications for the race confirmed the plan to seek redress in court.
According to him, “We will see how it will last and how it will go, but there is no doubt that there is going to be the possibility of litigation. I think that will happen very soon.
“After the announcement, police were seen in Patigi patrolling and they just left yesterday (Saturday). We have to do something because of the kind of trust the people who supported us have given us. We are peaceful people and that is why we will use civil means to go about it so that our people and supporters will have hope, otherwise they will castigate us that we have disappointed them.
“Personally, I would have just accepted it as the wish of God and let it go, that is my life but the people don’t want it to end that way”, he added.
