AFON DISTRICT UNION
P. O. BOX 01, AFON
ASA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KWARA STATE
TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE AFON DISTRICT UNION ON THE RECENT GRADING AND UPGRADING EXERCISE OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN KWARA STATE, HELD AT AFON ON WEDNESDAY, 28TH January, 2015

Protocols

PREAMBLE
With every sense of responsibility, we wish to register our indignation, pain and disappointment to the Kwara State government over the recent grading and upgrading exercise of traditional rulers in the state. In the said exercise, a total of 70 traditional rulers were either upgraded, with none from the whole Asa Local Government. The government of His Excellency, Dr. Abdul Fatah Ahmed did not take into consideration with a modicum of sympathy and love, the age long yearnings and aspirations of traditional Rulers of Yoruba extraction located in Asa, Moro, Ilorin West, Ilorin East and Ilorin south who are being perpetually relegated and submerged by the royal cabal of Ilorin, Our investigations revealed that the grading exercise was not intended to those area in Ilorin Emirate, and that the powers that be in the Emirate are opposed to the grading of any traditional ruler in our area. We pray this information was not true but events on ground confirm our fears.

HISTORICAL EXCURSION
It is pertinent to go down memory lane and to state emphatically that the people of Afon District are Yoruba with their rich and history, culture and tradition, and the Emirate system is anathema to Yoruba culture. There are many towns and settlements that constitute Afon District, each having its district traditional institution some of which even pre-dated the Ilorin Fulani dynasty being imposed on our people. The traditional institutions in Afon District include but not limited to;

1. Baale of Afon
2. Dado of okeso
3. Baale of Laduba
4. Baale of Sapati-Ile
5. Ologbondoroko of Ogbondoroko
6. Samu-Erin of Reke
7. Alaboto of Aboto-Oja
8. Onifoko of Foko-Oja
9. Olu-Ode of Odo-Ode
10. Alajagusi of Ajagusi
11. Aare of Ogele
12. Elegba of Egba
13. Alaran of Igbo-Aran
14. Baale of Olomada
15. Baale of Oguntoyinbo
16. Baale of Bello-Ira
17. Baale of Oniyere
18. Baale of Ajelanwa
19. Baale of Oloro
20. Baale of Alanta
21. Onila of Ila-Oja
22. Baa;le of Abayawo
23. Baale of BudoAiku
24. Baale of Aboto-Alfa
25. Baale of Budo-Agun
26. Baale of Ago-Oja


For example, history has it that Afon was founded some 200 years ago by Olulotan who migrated from Oyo-Ile. Olulotan was a warrior, fisherman and also a farmer. There is only one ruling house in Afon i.e. Olulotan Ruling House and the present Baale is the 5th Baale of Afon.
Similarly, Okeso was founded over 230 years ago by Olapetijiba Alade Ogo who was a prince from Ede in the present day osun state, during the reign of Alafin Abiodun who reigned in Oyo between 1770-1789. Prince Olapetijiba was a brave warrior and medicine man who had to migrate from Ede to establish Okeso having contested unsuccessfully for the throne Timi of Ede. Prince Olapetijiba was reported to have made a brief stop-over at Oyo Ile from where he finally came to settle at Okeso on the top of a hil. Ancient history says the founder was initially lonely, having no communication with the outside world. It was from this aspect of his history that the founder took his traditional title of “Dado” a shorten form of “Daduro” meaning “staying alone”.

The history of other towns in Afon District bear strong similarities with those analyzed above. How come these Yoruba towns are now categorized as fulanis which the Emirate system connotes. It is repugnant, unfair and retrogressive to tie the destiny of Yorubas to the ethics and values of another ethnic group other than their own. It won’t just synchronize

We have observed with regret that the Kwara State Government has been using two different laws to administer our traditional rulers. Out of the 16 locals Government Areas, 11 are having their separate traditional councils, whole the rest five- Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin south, Asa and Moro are lumped together to form Ilorin emirate council. This is unacceptable because Emirate system is strange to Yoruba custom, and the ADU vehemently protested this oppressive system during the Ekundayo chieftaincy Reform exercise of 1978, and subsequently after.

It is also on the record that this union protested in 1986 via a press conference when late Alhaji Alheri Balogun Fulani was to be imposed on us as a District Head. The then military Governor of Kwara State, Paul Col. Ahmed Abdullahi came up with the abolition of District Head on 17th December, 1987 through a council conclusion No. CM (87) 98 and the white paper on it

We also wish to inform the State Government that one of the drawbacks in the march toward progress and development of these communities was the aberration called native authorities which vested in Mogajis, Alanguas and Daodus unbridled powers. Through them, Ilorin Fulani Cabal was able to strengthen its grip on our people in apparent defiance of the people’s freedom, liberty and right.

We wish to recall here the speech of the first military Governor of Kwara State, Major D. L. Bamogboye (as he then was) on 17th December, 1968 during the first Local Government reform that abolished the native authority system. On page 4, the Military Government said:

“It is no longer a question of maintaining the status quo, where it use no longer meet the wishes of the people, but clearly it must be an object of policy where the people are developing their own ideas of progress, to help them to build up institution wish satisfy their wishes and are adequate for more modern needs’

On page 15, he spoke further:
''Chief and District Heads where the latter is applicable will no longer be imposed rather the local people will have and retain their inalienable right to select their own traditional Chiefs and rulers in accordance with their established Native Laws and customs".

Traditional institution in such communities as Ikotun, Ojoku, Ahogbada, Ira and a host of others were about a decade or two ago upgraded. Some of these communities i. e. Ikotun, Ojoku and Ahogbada were once part of Afon District before they were excised to Oyun Local Government on 17th December, 1968, and they used to pay their taxes through Dado of Okeso. If Ikotun and Ojoku would enjoy grading today, what ju8stifiable reason stops the Kwara State Government from grading traditional ruler in Afon District.

It would be strange therefore, if any of the Traditional Rulers in Asa and Moro are graded, after all we are in dynamic world where nothin is static. Moreso, such grading will help us to build up institutions, which will satisfy our wishes and which will be adequate for our more modern needs. We wish to remind the Kwara State Government that we are now in 21st Century and not 18th Century where someone could stand up to deny others their rights. There MUST be CHANGE. We pray our patience would not ne taxed.

OUR PRAYER
In view of the foregoing, the Afon District Union wishes to plead with the Kwara State Government to:
1. Grade our Traditional rulers in Afon District and others who apply from other Districts of Asa Local Government;
2. Create a seperate Traditional Council each for Asa and Moro Local Government Areas. This will give them their rightful status and paraphernalia; guarantee the regular payment of their salaries and emoluments; and give them absolute sense of belonging like their counterparts in the other 11 Local Government Areas in Kwara State;
3. Extend to our Local Government our Fair share of infrastructural development in order to improve the living standard of our people
CONCLUSION
It is gratifying that His Excellency, Dr. Abdul Fatah Ahmed recently assured the people of Kwara State that grading and upgrading of Traditional Rulers not cpvered in the first phase would be taken care of in the next phase. We consider the Governor's word as his bond, and we are hopeful that our prayers will receive the positive attention this time. We assure the Kwara State Government of our unalloyed loyalty.

Asa should for their right, because the people can u out, vote all the hater out of asa. We are yoruba's not northern

O to Gee!
Vote against those who oppose your progress.