The Governor of Kwara State Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman has been asked to ensure the immediate release of letter of upgrade to the Baale of Alara of Araromi Ipo, HRN Oparinola Ilufemiloye Oyewole David.
ALARA OF ARAROMI IPO.
The group also wants the Governor to sanction the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for hoarding the letter of upgrade meant for Alara of Araromi in Irepodun Local Government of the state.
In a letter addressed to the Governor, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) a coalition of 130 civil society groups spread across Nigeria said the Commissioner, Abdullahi Bata has introduced sentiments into an issue that demands administrative skill. The NHRC was established in 2003.
The NHRC said the Kwara State Government had set a committee to look into chieftaincy matters in Kwara State. The group said the recommendations included that some Chieftaincies were considered for uplift to the fourth grade.
One of the Baales recommended for upgrade was the Alara of Araromi Ipo. The Baale has not received his upgrade letter for the past three months causing a major embarrassment to him and his community.
The upgraded Baale was invited for his letter on Friday 23 January 2026 by the Director of the Chieftaincy to receive his letter of elevation.
However, the Commissioner has refused to carry out the recommendations of the committee citing external interference by an Oba who is not an official of the Kwara State Government.
The Baale who visited the office of the Local Government Chairman waited from 8am to 6pm without the letter given to him.
The Commisisoner said he would not release the letter based on the instruction of Olupo of Ipo His Royal Majesty Oba Ismail Mohammed Atoloye Alebiosu.
“This is illegal and disgraceful. It is wrong for a whole Kwara State Government to upgrade a Chief only for an individual to give a counter order against the status of the state Government. This is against the principle of democracy and undermines basic elements of justice and human rights,” the coalition said in a statement signed by its officials, Adekunle Abayomi, Kudu Abubakar and Werenipre Digifa.
The rights group called on the Kwara State Governor to live up to expectations and implement the recommendation of the committee immediately.
“We hereby appeal to the State Governor to act in good conscience and implement the decision of the committee. It is unfair, unjust and inhuman to treat the case of Araromi Ipo in isolation from the 22 monarchs that have already been elevated.”
