AA, Stop the Shenanigans, Leave the Traditional Rulers Alone
By Wahab Oba
This weekend, Nigerians from across ethnic, religious, and political divides gathered to pay their last respect to Mrs Florence Saraki, matriarch of the Saraki dynasty who passed away last month. The list of dignitaries who came to honor the memories of the departed cut across parties or ethnic divides.
Nigerians have been asking why there was no official representation from the Kwara state government given the reality of the place of the Saraki dynasty in every aspect of the state’s history, from evolution to date. He was a two term governor and president, 8th Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Well, it is good to note that discerning minds noted this absence. But even more is the untold story of how the state government went all out to ridicle and embarrass the Kwara State Traditional Council. Yes, ridiculed the traditional council once again.
But before I narrate the yet untold story, it is good to note that despite his being a leading opposition figure to the current administration, notable members of the ruling government have paid condolence visits to the Sarakis.
Even President Ahmed Bola Tinubu ‘released’ his wife, the First Lady, to personally visit and attend the burial program. National leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) also did the same.
The Senate Presudent, Godswill Akpabio, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiala, Senators and Governors across party lines honoured the Saraki family. These visits elevated humanity and relationships above politics for it is well known that in most cases our political leaders were first friends before embracing different ideological brands.
But notwithstanding this, times of mourning demand we put aside our differences and join our hearts together. Look at the example from President Joe Biden and his opponent, former President Donald Trump. When the latter was shot, the incumbent president and his family put aside the acrid campaigns against Trump, even called the family on phone and offered prayers.
That is how it should be. But not so with Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq, executive governor of Kwara state who will, willy nilly leave Government House by May 28, 2027. AA, as he is called, missed the great opportunity of showcasing his humanity all through the mourning period by the Sarakis.
Assuming that he has deep hatred for the scion of the family, Dr Bukola Saraki, is it also the same with Senator Gbemisola Saraki, the former Minister who set family aside and supported AA against her own brother to win the 2019 election?
When the late General Abdulraheem Adisa passed away, Bukola Saraki was in power as governor of Kwara state. Before then everyone knew how much the late General vilified the Sarakis.
But as governor, when Adisa had the accident that eventually took his life, the Kwara state government was involved with him. At his death, the state government was there, even at the risk of being embarrassed by the angry crowd of sorrowful mourners.
Not so AA. Those who know him said it was probably because of what he witnessed at the last Eid prayers. At that event, Saraki put politics aside and honoured his religious obligations, extending hands of fellowship to the governor and his brothers. At the end of the day, the people, yes, the people who are the ultimate source of power for politicians, hailed Saraki all the way back to his house.
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Now the untold story: For the burial, the state traditional council sent five first class traditional rulers as representatives. Two of then, Olomu of Omu-Aran, the Olusin of Isanlu Isin arrived Lagos, venue of the event, safely, on Thursday.
They were lodged in their respective hotels, safely. Then late in the night, they received an invitation to the Kwara state government house for the following day, by seven in the morning. Yes, you heard me right, seven o’clock in the morning.
Their royal highnesses had no option than to wear their regalia again and embark on a gruelling journey back to base, late in the night, by road, notwithstanding the security situation on our highway these days that have shown no respect even for royalty.
Understandably, others who were billed to represent the traditional council and those who initially signified intention to honour their friendship with the Sarakis stayed back.
But why did the governor need them? Ask me again. It was all a show of power. Actually a demonstration of powerless power. If no one close to him has advised him on this type of missteps, it is time we told AA that he is fighting a needless battle. When the Almighty has lit a lamp for a man, it is futile to try putting it out, to paraphrase the melodious lines of wisdom from King Sunny Ade.
I’m not concerned more with the political battles between Rahman and virtually anybody that is somebody in Ilorin, the battles will be settled by the people on the political fields.
But beyond this personal animosity, the tactics of AA in dealing with our traditional institution demands a deep reflection from all of us, moreso given his antecedents in that same direction. It is no longer in doubt that he seeks to treat our royal institution as an appendage of Government House.
While we recognize his constitutional power in the appointment of these royal fathers, an enabler many in his position often misuse, we hasten to remind him of the Yoruba saying that a wise servant knows how well to deliver a difficult message.
Our Obas and Emirs are not on the same pedestal as the direct appointees of the governor and he should not treat them that way. They are first and foremost appointed by their respective traditional homestead before the governor was asked to approve.
Their allegiance is first to their homestead and not to the governor. AA should also remember that whether he likes or not, he will vacate his present position by 2027 but these traditional rulers are in office till death.
Our people should raise their voices against a governor who delights in ridiculing that which is our common heritage. He did it during the last Sallah. He did it immediately after securing his second term by suspending a traditional ruler for no known justification.
He has consistently insisted not to allow Saraki, holder of a traditional title, be at the Ilorin Durbar. It is an attack on a sacred institution. We must not allow this to continue.
Now, on the needless envy of the Saraki legacy, if our governor truly loves Kwara, should he not have leverage on the goodwill Saraki has across the country to bring further developments to the state? Aliko Dangote and a good number of captains of industries paid condolence visits to the Sarakis throughout the one month long mourning of their Matriach.
Once again, I challenge, especially the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, which was adequately represented at the Eko Hotel venue of the reception by its president, and whose traditional ruler is being directly assaulted, and other community associations to speak out in defence of our heritage and culture. AA must stop the envies and shenanigans. Time is running out on his administration.
