Legal luminary, Okutepa, SAN, has issued a stern caution to Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, expressing dismay over what he termed “unpardonable blunders” in the governor’s inaugural address today Lokoja. Okutepa SAN highlighted the governor’s deliberate omission of the Ata Igala, the paramount ruler of the Igala people and president of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs.
In a scathing critique addressed directly to Governor Ododo, Okutepa SAN emphasized the perceived disrespect shown to the Ata Igala in the inaugural address. He accused the governor of intentionally prioritizing other royal fathers ahead of the revered Ata Igala, describing the act as sacrilegious and disgraceful.
Furthermore, Okutepa SAN asserted that Governor Ododo’s actions on his first day in office hinted at a deep-seated animosity towards the Igala race. He drew parallels with the previous administration, alleging that the governor may have inherited a disdain for the Igala people from his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
Warning the governor against any further displays of disrespect towards the Ata Igala, Okutepa SAN conveyed the sentiment that the Igala people would not tolerate such actions. He urged Governor Ododo to reconsider his approach and emphasized that the Igala race, being the majority tribe in Kogi State, would not stand idly by if their royal father continued to be insulted.
The caution concluded with Okutepa SAN extending “professional respect” to Governor Ododo while emphasizing the need for a more considerate and respectful approach towards the Igala people and their traditional leadership.
Read his Ukutepa’s statement bellow:
Dear Usman Ahmed Ododo,
I watched you on TV and listened to your inaugural address as governor of Kogi State today, the 27th of January 2024. In that address, you committed unpardonable blunders.You started your address by undermining the Igala people and our paramount ruler and the father of all Igalas, the Ata Igala and president of Kogi State Council of Chiefs.
In the order of protocol,and in acknowledging the royal fathers present, you intentionally, sacrilegiously and in the most disgraceful and abusive manner started with the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and Vice President of the Kogi State Council of chiefs.
After acknowledging other royal fathers, you then claimed that you forgot the number one Traditional Ruler in Kogi State, the Ata Igala. What an insult. For your information, no sensible human being will believe your feeble and insultive excuses that you forgot the President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, Ata Igaala, but you can vividly remember his Vice and the salutations of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
Your action on this first day and first assignment to do as governor clearly showed your intentions . It is clear to any decerning mind that you started your temporary occupation of the office of Governor of Kogi State with hatred for the Igala race.
In case you may not know, the stool of Ata Igala is the pride of the Igala people. It is not a stool of recent origin. It is a very revered stool of considerable antiquity of formidable pride. As a people, Igalas are the majority tribe in Kogi State.
Truth be told, you seem to have inherited the hatred of Igala people from Yahaya Bello, who treated us with such disdain and audacity of arrogance. The Igala race will no longer fold hands and see their royal father insulted by those who lacked legitimacy.
Be warned that any further show of disrespect to our royal father, Ata Igala, will not be telorated. That the Igala people have shown maturity and tolerated the adolescent government you just replaced, should not give you a licence to start on the same footting.
I hope you will not test the willpower of the Igala people by further display of disrespect.
Accept my professional respect always
Chief J.S.Okutepa SAN
27th January 2024