By Abdul Aji
The Ata Igala, and Chairman Kogi State Council of Chiefs, HRM Agabaidu Dr. Mathew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, has received a lady, Martha Graven, from indigenous Igala community in the Netherlands who has come home for physical reconnection on behalf of others.
The Ata who has traveled out of the palace at the time of her visit had two of his traditional rulers, the Inalogu Ata Igala and Onu Idah, to receive the Netherlands lady.
The Inalogu Ata Igala on behalf of Ata Igala gave her an Igala name, Eleojo, which means God’s gift, describing her journey all the way from the Netherlands to Idah, the headquarters of Igala kingdom, as a great joy and gift to Igala kingdom from God.
HRH Ibrahim Atadoga Ibrahim Adamu, the Inalogu Ata also presented to her on behalf of the palace of Ata Igala the Igala native cloth.
The Inalogu Ata, being a historian, researcher, and author donated two copies of his recently published Igala history book, “The Dos and Don’ts of the palace” to Eleojo, for her to know more about Igala history and to teach our other people in the Netherlands.
The lady, having been told of the sacrifices women played in Igala kingdom by the Onu Idah, especially Inikpi and Omaodoko during Igala and Benin, and Igala and Jukun wars of 15th and 16th century made such that she visited the temples of the two Igala princesses at Ega and Inachalo stream respectively.
She also visited all the historical monuments in the ancient town of Idah, such as the Odogo, ere ane, and several others.
The Netherlands lady was led to the palace by Dr. Ayegba Abdullahi Adojoh, the Universal Ambassador of Ata Igala, and Head, Igala worldwide Research and Reconnection Project of Ata Igala.
