Our attention has been drawn to the recent statements credited to the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim that “We shall defeat Igala in battle for Ajaokuta without violence, sword and gun” It is unfortunate that the Ohinoyi is thinking in that manner.
We want to equivocally state that Igala people are peace loving. That was the reason they tolerated the illegal occupation of Ajaokuta, a land that historically belong to the Igala people and was given to the then Queen of England, Queen Victoria upon her request to use the place as a model farm for returnee slaves as well as Lokoja through cession.
How come is Ajaokuta named with Igala word? How come the indigenous people of Ajaokuta are Igala if it is an Ebira land. Did the kings (Onu) of Ajaokuta from inception not Igalamen?
It is unfortunate, that the Ohinoyi of Ebira whose predecessor and kinsmen have benefited illegally from a territory that never belong to their ancestors but took advantage of state creation which wrongly used River Niger as the basis for dermacation without talking cognisance of the ethnic affiliation of the people living in this communities. Is Adogo the headquarter of Ajaokuta Local Government Area, an Ebira enclave? Is Adogo Ebira word?.
Atta Igala, HRM Ameh Oboni 11 is aware of the threat of the use of violence, sword and gun by your subjects but preffered the legal option in the pursuant of this anomalies that continue to stare the Igala royal institution and her people on the face.
It may interest to know that Atta Igala never outrightly sold Ajaokuta and Lokoja to the British colonialist, it was leased to them and it was never agreed that Ebira people should be the benefactor. If you as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland who is in position to knows the truth about the ownership of Ajaokuta turned round to incites your subjects to resort to violence, sword and guns, then that is demeaning in this present age. You should know that outside bragging rights Ebira has never fought any war in the real sense of battle. For you and your subjects to have the effontery to even talk about war against Igala people is most unfortunate. But you most know and realize the fact that you do not have the monopoly of violence.
Did you Ohinoyi of Ebiraland not know that Ajaokuta belongs to Igala? Did your ancestors not tell you? Is it not known to you and some of your subjects that the Igala people at Ajaokuta, Adogo and other communities are indigenous and the land belong to their Igala ancestors?
If a daughter of one of your ancestors married one of them does that made the land become that of Ebira, no matter how long it takes?
Beware that the Atta of Igala on behalf of his people including those in Ajaokuta LGA did not take the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and his people to court but the Federal Government which has taken the place of the British colonialist that the land was originally cede.
Therefore, you are not party to it even though you may become an interest party due to the quest to continually remain in control of what was never the property of your ancestors If you want to join in the suit of which you may have the right let face the judicial procedures.
The Igala can no longer watch Ebira to continue to benefit from a land that is not their own. We have taken the decent step in reclaiming our territories which were never lost in the real sense of it. As you boosted that the Queen of England is aware that the land belong to Ebira people. Let wait and see whether they will lie because of you and your subjects. The Crown of the Queen of England never had any dealing with your ancestors. As we said the Atta Igala, HRM Idakwo Ameh Oboni 11 and his subjects are peace loving which is exemplified in their actions and inactions.
Let the truth prevail in all of these. Truth will triumph no matter the age long conspiracy against Igala land. But assured that God is on our side because we are not just laying claims to what does not truly belong to our ancestors.
Engr Lawrence Akpa.
For: Igala Vanguard