Stop Campaigning for Politicians, Prof Suleiman Cautions Ilorin Traditional Rulers
The Director General of the National Institute of Legislative Studies, (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Suleiman has cautioned the traditional rulers in Ilorin Emirate against campaigning for political parties during the elections.
While the Ilorin Emirate Traditional Council compromises of the Emir, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Baloguns and others, the IEDPU is the central body of Ilorin sons and daughters home and abroad.
Suleiman, who could not hide his feelings spoke at the 1st anniversary lecture organised to celebrate the installation of 12th Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin Emirate, Dr Usman Abubakar on Saturday.
The Ilorin born don, during his speech, noted the relevance of traditional institutions like the Emirate in the socio-political development of the community.
He however flayed the traditional rulers for openly supporting politicians during the last election to the extent that they could not hide their political preferences.
In his words, he said “while it is not unexpected that as a political animal, our fathers may have their preferences, but the office they occupy demands of them to be highly circumspect and ensure a semblance of neutrality in their dealings as their subjects belong to different political parties.”
Abubakar also came hard on the umbrella body of Ilorin Emirate sons and daughters, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressives Union (IEDPU) for similar reasons.
The NILDS helmsman gave specific instances where he alleged that both the traditional rulers and the IEDPU showed unnecessary partisanship during the elections or according to him, in the handling of some of the key cultural and Islamic activities in the Emirate in recent years.
“By this, I am referring to aspects of the implementation of the Durbar, management and occurrences at Eid praying ground and even the prestigious annual IEDPU calendar launching to mention a few.”
“My observation is that we have allowed political differences among the elite of the Emirate to rub negatively on the way these activities are handled,” he said.
He added; “At the time of elections, I have also noticed that our traditional and religious leaders openly support and campaign for one party against the others.”
This, he claimed, does not augur well for the credibility of the traditional institutions because they become vulnerable to political retributions, blackmail and manipulation.
Suleiman also equally advised the Ilorin Emirate and other traditional institutions to devise an alternative and more sustainable means of funding instead of going cap in hands all the time to the politicians.
“It is important to evolve innovative financing models that insulate traditional institutions from pressures and blackmail from political office holders,” he suggested
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