iyobhebhe@hotmail.com

We must congratulate the Government of Kebbi State for removing the irresponsible Jokolo and appointing a more responsible Emir for the Gwandu Emirate. Congratulations to the new Emir and long may he reign. Jokolo lost the right, status, privileges, dignity and respect of a responsible Royal Father when he allowed his emotions, prejudices and political preferences to cloud his judgment and utterances over the last few years. He is not the only traditional ruler in the Far North who does not particular like Mr President and his Government. He was not the only traditional ruler who would have preferred Buhari, a fellow Northern Moslem, to OBJ. But the smart ones knew how far they could go and how far they could push Mr President- Jokolo did not. He took his antagonism too far when he went to Aso Rock recently, as part of a delegation of Northern Leaders, to see Mr President and attempted to talk down to the current landlord of Aso Rock in his own home. Would he have had the audacity to speak to any of our past leaders the way he addressed Mr. President? Would he have had the audacity and inclination to call for Jihad against the people and government of Nigeria during the reign of Shagari, Buhari, IBB, and Abacha? I think we all know the answer. Whether you like OBJ or not, he is the President of Nigeria and as such must be accorded the respect and honour accruing to the Office of President of Nigeria. And I don’t think that is asking too much. Jokolo never understood that there was a time and a place for everything. He did not know when to speak and when not to. He lost it completely and consequently his esteemed stool as Emir of Gwandu. I don’t think a lot of people in Gwandu, Kebbi State, the Far North and the rest of Nigeria will be losing sleep over his removal from office. We have to congratulate the Governor of Kebbi for removing such a dangerous man from office. We thank Allah that his incitement to rebellion against the FGN fell on deaf ears and was treated with the contempt it deserved by Moslems and Christians alike.

In all of history, people who are quick to call for war, jihad and rebellion are usually the most reluctant to die themselves and usually the first to flee abroad when all hell breaks loose. He was a disappointment to Gwandu, Kebbi State, the Far North, Traditional Rulers, Moslems and all Nigerians.

He was completely out of tune with the spirit of the age. I few weeks ago in my article ‘Government Appointments and Jihad’ I advised Jokolo to come forward and deny he ever called for Jihad, he ignored the advice. I also advised him to apologise to his local government, the Kebbi State Government, the FGN, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the millions of Moslems in Nigeria- he refused. In as much as I respect and accept the role and authority of our traditional rulers, I don’t think any traditional ruler is strong enough today to challenge the authority, power and prestige of the FGN- not one. You don’t encourage rebellion, coup and inter religions strife and expect the establishment to say ‘well done Jokolo’. He forgot that Nigeria has moved on from the 1970’s. He forgot that there is a new order in Nigeria today. He cannot have more influence over Kebbi State and Moslems in Nigeria than the Governor of Kebbi State and Mr President. Jokolo failed to realise the limitations of his office as Emir of Gwandu. If the FGN, as personified by the late Abacha, can remove the Almighty Dasuki and replace him with Maccido as Sultan of Sokoto, who is Jokolo? Did he think he could take on the Nigeria State and win? Did he think Millions of Moslems will rise up against the FGN? Did he think he could whip up religious, tribal and regional sentiments against the Nigerian state and win? Did he think he was untouchable? Well, Jokolo, if Dasuki, the most powerful traditional ruler in Nigeria of his day could be removed, you were certainly not untouchable. Traditional rulers should help maintain law and order, peace and progress in their local government, State and in the Country. In fact they are the Fourth Estate of the Republic – after the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, our Traditional rulers have their role to play too. It could be argued that the cultural, social and political influence they wield is sometimes second only to that of the FGN itself. With power and influence, comes responsibility; that is why they should behave in such a way as to command the respect of all Nigerians. The majority of our Royal Fathers understand and accept this fact. That is why the three Great Royal Fathers in Nigeria today- the Sultan of the Sokoto, the Ooni of Ife and the Oba of Benin are so highly respected across the Country. Jokolo should have learnt from these great royal fathers instead of behaving like the loose cannon that he was. He had the opportunity to retract his reckless and dangerous statement, he refused; he had the opportunity to apologise for his dangerous utterances, he refused. At the end of the day he was removed not by the FGN but by the Government of Kebbi State for its own reasons. Either way, he is gone. He was lucky his LGA Chairman was not given the honour of firing him from his post. Good riddance to a troublemaker. We need peace and progress warriors not trouble makers using religion to ferment trouble for our long-suffering people. Well done, Aliero. J.E.Iyobhebhe iyobhebhe@hotmail.com