An Ibadan chief and businessman, Mogaji Wole Arisekola, has frowned against the suspension of the Sarkin Sasa and Head of Fulani and Arewa community in Ibadan, Haruna Maiyasin, by the Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ali Zungeru, warning that he lacks the power to remove any chief under the domain of the Olubadan of Ibadaland without the latter’s approval.
Mogaji Arisekola spoke on Sunday in reaction to the suspension of Maiyasin as Sarkin Sasa on Saturday.
Maiyasin was said to have been suspended at the end of Hausawa community meeting headed by Zungeru on Wednesday on account of insubordination, disrespect for the referred stool of Olubadan of Ibadanland and unlawful conferment of chieftaincy titles on the people without recourse to Sarki Hausawa of Ibadanland.
However Arisekola, an Ibadan chief and frontline media enterpreneur, said that Zungeru should be restrained from any action that may amount to high-handedness and usurpation of the powers and the privileges of the Paramount ruler in Ibadaland.
He said, “Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ali Zungeru, has no power to suspend Sarkin Sasa. Only the Olubadan of Ibadanland can suspend or remove any erring chief in his domiain.”
In a related development, the Council of Arewa Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in the 17 southern states of the country also said that Zungeru lacked moral and constitutional rights to suspend Maiyasin from office.
Sarkin Samari of Shuwa/Arab of Nigeria, Ahmed Muhammed; Uban Gari of Sasa, Isa Nalado and Secretary, Sarkin Sasa palace, Adam Haruna, on behalf of the Council, at Sarkin Sasa’s residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, stated that Maiyasin was appointed by the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Oloyede Asanike in 1983 and was appointed as Chairman, Council of Arewa Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in 1994 by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.
Muhammed, Sarkin Samari of Shuwa/Arab of Nigeria, said, “The Federal Government led by late Gen. Sani Abacha appointed Maiyasin as Chairman of the Council. All the Hausawa from the affected states endorsed the decision of the government. He was given certificate as confirmation. So, you cannot remove the person that you did not appoint.
“We are committed to the leadership of the Olubadan of Ibadanland as well as other authorities therein.”
Uban Gari of Sasa, Nalado said, “By virtue of this, Maiyasin is only answerable to the exalted leadership and institution of Olubadan of Ibadanland to which he is loyal and subject to. The Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, Zungeru has no powers to remove Maiyasin because he was not installed by him.
“We are hereby appealing to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Balogun to please intervene by calling Zungeru and his co-travellers to order in order not to let the disgruntled elements to cause mayhem in Ibadan in particular and the state in general. And to also avoid breakdown of law and order as an uneasy tension is brewing among the Hausa community in the state.”
