The kingdom was in a celebratory mood. Their monarch has clocked 90 years. The traditional ruler was also happy and grateful to God. But certain realities ensured that the monarch was not entirely happy.
That was the picture in Jebba, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State where Oba Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara holds court.
Oba Adebara rued the shabby treatment being meted out to him by successive governments in the state.
“I have been treated with disdain and humiliated by the state government since the era of former governor Bukola Saraki now a senator and to the present government over my appointment as the fifth Oba of Jebba by the then government of Mohammed Lawal, now late.
“Governor Lawal approved my appointment, he gave me a letter that backed it up as the Oba of Jebba in 2003. Only for the state government…to refuse to give me recognition and my entitlements since I became oba.
“Despite several court cases which I won, the latest being the judgment of 2014 that mandated the state government to pay my entitlements but tas I speak nothing has been done”.
The monarch said the community had experienced peaceful coexistence since he ascended the throne. He appreciated the Jebba Paper Mill Company for damming the Jebba River for the use of the community members. He hailed the support he enjoyed from the chiefs and entire community. He called on his subjects to continue to tolerate one another and remain in one accord.
Meanwhile, the people of Jebba have cried out to the state government over poor state of township roads and lack of basic amenities like pipe borne waterý.
The community used the occasion to draw the attention of the state government to the under-utilisation of the Arabic Teachers College in the community.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Asiwaju of Jebba land, Chief James Babatunde said the college has been witnessing low turnout of students despite many buildings erected there by government which is just lying fallow and unused.
He called on the state government to convert the college to an higher institution of learning which he believes would make the place more vibrant.
In a remark, Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Chief Jaiyeola Omotosho said, “Ever since the coronation of the Oba in 2003 Oba Adebara has continued to make tremendous sacrifices to foster peace and socio-economic development of Jebba and its environs despite considerable encumbrances. In recognition of the giant strides, the minimum birthday present the people of Jebba would wish for their monarch from the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is the immediate implementation of the Kwara State High Court judgment, which must of course include the full settlement of all arrears of his emoluments of 15 years and his subsequent elevation to first-class status like his contemporaries. It will be a monumental atonement if the state government can make that pronouncement.”
Dignitaries at the event include Oba Abdulrasaq Afolabi, Olojoku of Ojoku, Oba Abubakar Oloyede, Onigbona of lgbona, Oba Joseph Sunday Defila, Oloreke of Oreke-Igbo, Oba Dr Abdulazeez Agboola, Oba of Agbeku, Oba Jamiu Oyebola Ibrahim, Akamayo of Amayo, Oba Abdulkadir Akano Lawal, Kobape of Amodu, Oba Kassum Issa, Oba of Labaka.