Following the death of Idakwo Ameh on 27th August, 2020, the stool of Atta Igala has remained vacant even after 18 clear months. Expectedly, that stool must be dusty by now due to abandonment.
My intention for rendering this piece is not to drum support for any of the contestants, rather, it is with a view to updating those who have been asking me for progress thus far, also, to plead with those in charge to quickly but correctly give us a new Atta.
On the update menu therefore, the Igala Area Traditional Council will on 27th April, 2021 consider recommendation of another Atta designate, this time, Mr. Mathew Alaji Opaluwa.
You will recall that in February, 2021, the Etemahi and his 8 chiefs forming Igalamela; who are the kown kingmakers (being the 9 Igala clans) had recommended Mr Ocholi Opaluwa to the Council for onward transition to the governor, but the recommendation was greeted with several petitions, alleging unprintable irregularities. The Council considered it and perhaps rejected it.
The Council therefore decided to boycott the kingmakers by setting up its own panel, an act some observers have warned will backfire if tested in the court as it is not backed by any law or customary practice. The only person vested with powers to refuse and or setup a new panel under the Kogi State Chiefs (appointment and deposition) Law, 2006 is the Governor in Council.
The issue of concern for the Igalamela kingmakers of Ajaka is not just that the new panel does not have any of the 9 Igala clans (Igalamela) as its member, the panel also sat and screened candidates in Anyigba, instead of Ajaka. This is said to be capable of taking away the powers of Igalamela for life, a power they have exercised since the reign of Ayegba Idoko, some hundreds of years ago.
Though the screening by the Council’s panel was peaceful and wounded up last week with the recommendation of Mathew Opaluwa, some candidates however refused to appear before the panel while it sat; insisting that the Council does not have powers to setup such a panel.
Notable amongst those who refused to surrender to the Council’s panel was Ocholi Opaluwa for obvious reasons, he had already been recommended by the Etemahi kingmakers.
It is interesting to note that supporters of other candidates are also insisting that the two brothers, Mathew and Ocholi Opaluwa are not even qualified as their own older brother Samuel Opaluwa is still in the race. Then, there is another argument in favour of Okoliko Opaluwa as the only candidate nominated by the elders surviving member of Ameacho family, a prerequisite to eligibility to contest from the family.
Obviously, this is a time that requires patience, caution and wisdom, but is also a time that requires speed as that stool must have become too dusty by now. It is a time to dust that stool, it is a time to put it to use.
In all, I sincerely join all Igala sons and daughters to pray for a smooth emergence of a new Atta.
May God give us the grace to dust that stool clean for the deserving and God chosen occupant.
©Igala Teacher.
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