Allegations against me petty – Suspended Oba Yoruba of Sokoto
Alhaji Abdulfatai Olayiwola Coker is the Sarikin Yorubawa (Oba Yoruba) of Sokoto. He was suspended through a letter written and signed by the President General and General Secretary of the Yoruba community in the state. In this interview with our correspondent, ANIMASAHUN SALMAN, he speaks about the suspension and his next line of action
First, who is Serikin Yorubawa of Sokoto?
My name is Alhaji Abdulfatai Olayiwola Coker, the Serikin Yorubawa or the Oba of the Yoruba community in Sokoto State.
There was a report of your suspension in office by members of the Yoruba community, how did you receive the news?
Honestly, my brother, the report was surprising because we have had a smooth relationship in the last eight years since I have been at the helm of affairs.
The Oba in council has had a good relationship with members of the Yoruba community and its executives without any problem. There was never any suspicion that any issue could cause disagreement between us.
How long have you been on the throne?
I have spent eight years on the throne already. I clocked eight years on the 6th of February, and since I became the king here, I have never had any course to be questioned or challenged by anyone.
We have been having a smooth rule alongside my cabinet members and the Baales accordingly.
Before the news of your suspension broke out, were you contacted by the Yoruba community to defend yourself against any allegation?
Not at all nobody called or made contact with me. I just received the letter of suspension, and after receiving it, I started receiving calls from people all over the country asking me about the news of my suspension.
What are the allegations against you in the letter?
The allegations were trivial and cannot be substantiated before anyone as far as I am concerned.
Can you tell us one or two of the allegations?
I have read and read the letter several times but, unfortunately, I have not been able to ascertain what exactly are the allegations.
What is your next line of action on the suspension?
I am holding a meeting with my Chiefs and Baales now that the story of the purported suspension has gone viral. We have to come up with our side of the story to debunk incorrect information that has been spread.
I am sure you must have seen the news when my cabinet members including Chiefs and Baales in addition to some other stakeholders in the state passed a vote of confidence on my leadership.
There is nothing much to be worried about. I believe this issue is just a case of a communication gap between father and children and I can assure you that by the special grace of God, the issue will soon be resolved.
In the letter sent to you, it was stated that the body that suspended you installed you, did this body have the power to suspend you?
That is funny my son. The fact here is that there are multiple constitutions now flying here and there after my ascension to the throne.
As for me, I only know of one constitution and that was the one that was used in taking my oath of office as we are here now, it is the same one I used in running the affairs of my people as well as my cabinet members.
I don’t know of any constitution that says an Oba can be removed based on trivial allegations or issues.
No criminal allegations, no question of impunity, or anything that can warrant a situation where an Oba can be removed or suspended just like that.
Based on the constitution, can this body suspend you?
As I said, based on the constitution handed over to me, they don’t have such power, especially on trivial allegations like they are trying to prove here.
The news of your suspension has thrown Yoruba people in the state into confusion, what is your message to the Yoruba community?
I call for calm and understanding among everyone, as the leader of the Yoruba community in the state. It is written boldly in the constitution that the Oba Yoruba in the state is the overall head of the Yoruba people in the state. So, I do not want to see anything that will bring problems to us. So, I call for calm.
Any hope of an amicable resolution of the issue soon?
Yes, there is hope for an amicable resolution. I believe that is an option we can not run away from and I consider it to be the best option.
