As the Kogi state government strives to finding lasting solutions to the age long violence clashes in Bagana, a group, under the aegis of Ichekpa OnuIfe kingmakers of Omala Local Government Area has rejected the purported nominee to the chieftaincy stool of Bagana by the Executive chairman of Omala Local Government council, Edibo Mark Ameh.
The family described the purported composition of the committee and it’s attendant outcomes as a rape on the powers of traditional institution and an affront to the separation of powers in the state.
The is just as the group has also called on the Executive Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, to swiftly intervene by calling the Council chairman, Edibo Mark Ameh to order to enable the traditional council to perform their constitutional role in conducting preliminary investigations for the selection and appointment of qualified member of the ruling clans in line with the extant chief law of 2006 to forestall impending crisis.
In a statement signed by Chief Noah Awodi, Omachi OnuIfe and made available to Journalists in Lokoja on Tuesday, decried the unilateral actions of the Council chairman, Hon. Edibo Mark Ameh in his kinetic move capable of perpetually keeping the community in violence.
The Ichekpa OnuIfe dynasty which is the custodian of Bagana, has been appalled by his usurpation and degrading of the role of Omala traditional council by constituting a committee populated by officials of his office and some cronies whose aim is to jettison the peace model of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo whose divine intervention has ensured relative peace and security to the troubled Bagana Community.
Chief Awodi, who is the spokesperson of the kingmakers, noted with dismay, that, the chairman who does not know the architecture of the crisis of the community would dabble into it just to satisfy the ambition of his bosom friend whose patrilineal ancestry is unknown to the custodian clans.
He said he has on good authorities, that some of the members of his kangaroo committee backed out, leaving only his cronies to railroad his bosom friend who has no link to the stool to assume rulership of the community.
He disclosed that the paramount ruler of OnuIfe and chairman of Omala traditional council , HRH Boniface Musa, has written letter of Complaints to AtaIgala, HRM Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, chairman Igala Traditional council and copied Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo and the ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to call the chairman to order and revert to the Chief law of 2006 to avert the breach of peace and security as put up by the Governor on assumption of office in 2024.
He explained that the petition of the royal father, with reference number Oml/Tc/Adm/65/vol.111/594 on 19 December 2025 , urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo who has done so much for the restoration of peace in Bagana to swiftly intervene to allow the traditional council to carry out preliminary investigations and screening of candidates that will lead to the selection and appointment of credible candidate for the stool of Onu Bagana.
He added that despite the petition which has been served to relevant Government agencies, the council chairman continued with his unauthorized powers to nominate a candidate unknown to the custodian clans.
Awodi further disclosed that on the order of Governor Ododo, a distinct stool was created for Bagana and issued a directive to the belligerents chiefs- onu Otutubatu and Onu Ihankpe- to relocate to their domains.
He stated that the OnuIfe, subsequently sent the ascension order to the ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for approval, but , surprisingly, the council chairman, allegedly obtained an approval which source was unknown to the clans to go ahead with his Committee.
He revealed that, at the peak of the crisis that engulfed Bagana with its brutal pogrom and destruction of property, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Alaji Oguche Akpa, the AtaIgala on 01/12/2022 set up committee of enquiry composed of eminent first class chiefs across Igala kingdom.
The committee which was headed by Ejeh Ibaji , Ajofe John Egwumi, Ejeh Olamaboro as Secretary, other members include; Etemahi of Igalamela Odolu, Ajofe Abel Etuh and Onu Ankpa, Ajofe Abdulmalik Umar, its recommendations have been a guide for the Governor’s actions he has taken so far on Bagana.
“While the people have been enveloped in jubilation for the restored peace and security across the community, the actions of the council chairman, if not checked and reversed will affect the fragile peace. The issue of traditional stool is not the same with political appointment. He has rights to appoint whomsoever he wants to his cabinet , however ,not to dabble into the murky waters of chieftaincy matters.
“For nearly two decades, Bagana has been in the news for wrong reasons. We are highly grateful to his Excellency for his proactive solutions, which is about to be truncated by the chairman, Hon. Mark Edibo, if not restraint.
“We challenge him to bring his candidate to face the process, if he knows that his candidate is qualified rather than to smuggle him through the back door.
“We as a family, we are appealing to the Governor to use his good offices to call the chairman to order and to allow the constitutionally approved traditional council to do their work , just as it is being done in other Local Government councils across the state.
“We are tired of wars and violence and we cannot afford to take Governor Ododo’ s peace model for granted. We are solidly behind him in his political ambition and as one of the largest family groups with tentacles in Eight Local Government Areas in kogi East are ready to champion his reelection bid.
“We commend HRM Ata Igala, Matthew Alaji Oguche Akpa and his chiefs who sat on the committee, whose recommendations were approved by the Governor that has restored peace,” Awodi clarified.
While soliciting the support of the government to do the right thing, urged the good people of Omala to speak one voice with the traditional council to recommend credible candidate for the Onu Bagana stool in order not to sow the seed of crisis for the future generations.
