Oluseyi Dasilva
As steps and procedures are ongoing over the emergence of the new Etsu of Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, the kingmakers, traditional title chiefs and the people of the town have insisted on a rotation of the traditional stool of the ancient community among the ruling houses.
Arising from a consultative meeting held on Monday at the chamber of the legislative arm of Patigi local government, the stakeholders resolved that all ruling houses should be entitled to the throne of Etsu Patigi.
The Waziri of Patigi, Alhaji Rabiu Usman Ndalolo, who spoke on behalf of other chiefs, insisted that only the five kingmakers under the chairmanship of the Ndeji Patigi, Alhaji Muhammed Ndeji Gboke were empowered to screen all the contestants and submit the names of the best candidates to the council chairman for onward transmission to the state ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
It was gathered that the consultative meeting was aimed at uniting the ruling houses with the kingmakers, traditional chiefs and elders to harvest thoughts and opinions on the way forward and discuss equity and fairness in choosing the successor to the late Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar.
Ndalolo, however, cautioned that any action contrary to the position of the kingmakers could ignite crisis in the ancient town, just as he asked the state government not to go against the wishes of the people on the new king.
He also warned some first class traditional rulers from Kwara North and South senatorial districts of the state against undue interference in the chieftaincy of Patigi, urging them to stay away from the contest so as not to instigate crisis.
“We are here to discuss issues on who to succeed the late Etsu. It is sad that the Chairman of the council, who is the chief security officer of the local government is not here, even the representatives of the ministry and the kingmakers.
“This showed that we don’t form a quorum, hence the decision on who succeed the late Etsu cannot hold. If any representatives of these people are not here, I doubt if there could be any meaningful discussion.
“There is fear that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will soon announce the next Etsu Patigi, I believe that he will not do that. If he does, he is calling for revolution in this town. There will be unrest if he goes contrary to the decision of the Kingmakers and entire people of Patigi that the position should be rotated among the ruling houses.
“There is also a dilemma that some traditional rulers from Kwara North and South are interfering on the successor of Etsu. We, however, warn them to stay away from who becomes the next Etsu, because we don’t interfere in their own affairs. I will personally bring this issue up and take it to Abuja for the intervention of the necessary authority”, Ndalolo said.
The Waziri Patigi also denied the suspension of the Ndeji Patigi, affirming that he is still the head of the five kingmakers while the Chief Imam is the Chief Adviser.
Ndalolo, therefore, called on representatives of the ministry of local government, Patigi local government, kingmakers, and security agencies to attend the consultative meeting, which was shifted to Thursday to discuss the chieftaincy of the council.
