By our reporter
Last week, the Kwara State government appointed His Royal Highness Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, as Chancellor of the Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED).
According to an authoritative source within the government circle who spoke to National Pilot under anonymity, the honour was initially intended for the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, a prominent and influential figure in Kwara’s traditional hierarchy.
The appointment,however was given instead to the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu.
The shift in the appointment, sources claimed, could be traced partly to the recently concluded local government election in the state during which Offa indigenes vehemently voiced their opposition to the ruling party.
This development, it was gathered, did not go down well with the governor and indeed the ruling party.
National Pilot recall that at the just concluded local government elections, the Offa indigenes outrightly stood against the election results which brought the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress into power in the local government as announced by KWASIEC.
It was reported that after the official announcement of the election results, many Offa indigenes trooped out to protest against the election results and voiced strong opposition to the ruling party and, by extension, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s administration.
While the Olupo ranks third among Kwara State’s traditional rulers and is the highest-ranking monarch in Kwara South, the Olofa of Offa has gained considerable visibility and prominence across the state in recent years.
However, another authoritative source who also spoke under anonymity, clamied that, “the fallout from the recent local elections appears to have affected the Offa community’s relationship with the state government”.
The source cited that “some prominent Offa businessmen, for instance, have reportedly been excluded from state opportunities. One Offa descendant who bid for the Kwara Hotel consultancy contract was allegedly denied the slot despite extensive efforts. Another individual lost his tax collection bid after investing in publicity, including erecting signposts.”
However, when National Pilot contacted the Kwara State Commissioner for information, Bolanle Olukoju on Tuesday around 9:22 pm, the call ended abruptly within 52 seconds. Further effort to reach her again via phone call around, 9:24pm, 9:27pm, 9:36pm and 10:10pm ended with a notification ” line busy”.
Also,, a text message which reads: ” Good evening, Ma, I write on behalf of National Pilot Newspaper to get your reaction to an allegation over the chancellorship of KWASUED conferred on Olupo of Ajase Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu. It was alleged that the title was meant for Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II but due to the recent local government election in Offa where series of political theatrics played out, the title therefore was given to the Olupo Ajase Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya. How true is that Ma?” was sent to her direct line and WhatsApp around 11:15pm and 11:18pm respectively.
Also, on Wednesday around 9:33am a call to the honourable Commissioner’s line didn’t get through and at the time of filling this report, all texts and calls to the honourable Commissioner remained unreplied.
It remains to be seen how this political maneuvering will impact the relationship between the state government and one of Kwara’s most influential communities.
