Determined to put a stop on school pupils getting wet during this rainy season with their attendant wet floors, a Non-Governmental Organization, Third-Estate has donated all season skecher shoes to selected schools in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Making the presentation at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the group in Ilorin Emirate, the President of the association, Mallam Bolaji Nagode said the gesture apart from being a morale booster to the students, was also geared towards unifying the councils within the Ilorin Emirate.

Nagode said: “With supports from Assist International, Ripon, California through Lanre Gidado, Third-Estate presents the Skechers shoes to the selected schools in Moro Local Government to protect students during the raining season and for exercises and is also a symbolic gesture to the people of the community that all local governments in Ilorin Emirate are in one spirit of equity, justice and fairness in politics and economic development.”

Speaking on the activities of the association in the last one year, Mallam Nagode said: “We have commenced free medical outreach for elderly people in the communities and initiated Skills acquisition programmes in ICT through credible IT learning centres.

“We also have a plan to sponsor young graduates to acquire skills in Solar PV Installation and maintenance as part of creating self-empowerment job opportunities for the youths.”

The President also disclosed that a database program on eminent personalities from Ilorin Emirate who contributed to the growth and development of the community and Nigeria is being conducted by Image Merchants Promotion Limited, a reputable PR firm in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of Good Friends of Moro People, Alhaji Raji Mohammed expressed gratitude to Third-Estate for the donation of Skecher Shoes and its various activities in supports youths empowerment and skill acquisition programmes.

Some leaders of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State have petitioned the Presidency, National Assembly, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and security agencies, claiming that no part of Moro LGA belongs to the Ilorin Emirate led by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

The members under Moro Concerned Elders Movement spoke about the petition during a media briefing in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Wednesday.

The President of the group, Ayinde Jimoh, in an address read by its Director of Publicity, Theophilus Oyebiyi, said its argument that Moro LGA did not belong to Ilorin Emirate was confirmed by the judgment of a competent court of jurisdiction delivered by Justice J.A. Ibiwoye on October 22, 1997.

Jimoh demanded immediate recognition and grading of some traditional rulers in Moro LGA.

According to him, the traditional ruler include Okutala Lanwa, Bielesin, Ejidongari, Olooru Bode-Saadu, Budo-Are, Malete, Elemere, Oloworu, and Babaloke.

He also demanded the immediate return of the pre-1984 third class grading of both Ohoro of Shao and Oba of Jebba, and the immediate upgrading of the duo to the first class status.

Jimoh on behalf of the Moro group further demanded immediate stoppage of the five per cent deduction from the Moro LGA federal allocation allegedly remitted to the Ilorin Emirate.
Source: http://punchng.com/moro-elders-petition-fg-say-our-lg-not-under-ilorin-emirate/

The people, who protested against alleged marginalisation and manipulation of constitutional provisions of the people by the Ilorin emirate council, said that the plan was to suppress people of Moro council by the emirate.

Addressing journalists in Ilorin during the week, President of MCEM, Alhaji Isiaka Jimoh, said that the leadership of Ilorin Emirate laid claims to ‘all lands in the entire council.’

“We use this medium to call on the state government to do the needful by urgently addressing the various issues we have raised and analysed, as so doing is not only worthy, but shall bring out the best in any listening and responsive government that is desirous to promote harmonious and all-inclusive governance within its territory”, he said.

Reacting to the development, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, said that the allegations were libelous, condemnable, uncharitable and unwarranted, adding that the people were not legally competent to pursue any claim under any guise “due to the fact that they are not members of the state traditional council”.

The Moro group, also demanded for, “the creation of Moro traditional council; beneficial utilisation of the five per cent deductible from the monthly federal allocation due to the council; stoppage of the diversion of the five per cent of the council allocation currently being remitted to the ‘Ilorin Emirate;’ immediate intervention of the various anti-corruption agencies through commencement of investigation to the alleged misapropriation of funds due to the local government from 2003 till 2015; future deductions of five per cent from the council to be remitted directly to the Moro local government traditional council.

Other demands include “immediate withdrawal of the district heads from the council in compliance with the Kwara state whitepaper of December 17, 1987; immediate return of the pre-1984 3rd class grading of both Ohoro of Shao and Oba of Jebba and immediate upgrading of the duo to first class status of their counterparts in other parts of the state”.

He also enjoined the state government to address and correct all the alleged developmental deficiencies in the local government area so as to allow the people have a sense of belonging”.

Scores of the protesters from different communities in the council carried placards with numerous inscriptions to express their grievances, saying that there was no historical evidence to support the emirate’s claims.

The Emir of Ilorin, who spoke through the palace spokesperson and Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Soliu Woru Mohammed, said the statement also exposed ignorance of the elementary history on which the Emirate was being governed.

“However, the current system of governance in Nigeria is the outcome of the numerous conquest and Jihad which predates the advent of colonial

administration. There are 774 local governments across the country backed by the nation’s constitution, any activity going on therein, is a product of the constitution which cannot be altered by anyone accept by legislative process which must also comply with historical facts.

“You cannot ask for what is not yours. Traditional rulers are born not made by anybody. The stool of the Emir of Ilorin is paramount and extends across the entire Emirate. Once historical accounts do not reflect your antecedents as a monarch, it will be out of place to be laying claim to what is not yours.

“About the issue of allocation, it is in line with the dictates of the constitution and the resources is usually channel towards the appropriate beneficiaries; the Alanguas, Magajis and Daudus who are the major components of the Emirate Council are serving as the Emir’s Lieutenants in their respective domains.

“Members of the public are thereby advised to disregard the speculation and undue claims aimed at destabilizing the existing peaceful and harmonious working relationship in the Emirate.
Source: http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/moro-communities-decry-marginalisation/