By Abdul Aji.
The Ata Igala, His Royal Majesty Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II’s great walk from Ugwolawo to Idah and the burning of the Ata’s thatch hut on March 6, 2013 at Ugwolawo symbolized Ata Igala’s connection to his people and his last possession on earth. Hence, he no longer had earthly possessions from that day as his body and soul belongs to the Igala people from that day. He had to trek from Ugwolawo, the present headquarter of Ofu Local Government Council through Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Council headquarter, Ajaka and make a glorious entry into Idah town, just like the Biblical Triumphant Entry of Jesus Christ and some famous warriors into Jerusalem.
According to Sule Isa Akagwu Kpaleko, Ugwolawo was once called Omata District. The district was created in 1905 and it is one of the oldest districts in Northern Nigeria. Ugwolawo, he said, is an apprentice town in preparatory for Ata Stool as the heir to the Ata stool is made Onu Ugwolawo to enable him study the nutty-gritty and rudiments of administration as Ata Igala. When the Ata stool becomes vacant, the heir’s house in Ugwolawo would be the first coronation alter which the hut would be burnt down as a sign that designate Ata from that moment has no home of his own. His home and first family now becomes the Igala.
Some persons in the social media have argued that all the previous Ata were once Onu Ugwolawo according to tradition except for Aliyu obaje and Idakwo Ameh Oboni. They said Aliyu Obaje, a tutor from School of Basic Studies, Zaria, was made Ata without previously been an Onu Ugwolawo. Opaluwa Oguche was a sitting Onu Ugwolawo in 1956. In the same vein, they also claim His Royal Majesty Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II moved from his Lokoja residence to a thatched house in Ugwolawo to spend three days when a sitting Onu/Eje of Ugwolawo, Adebo Opaluwa was on seat. Sule Akagwu said the colonial masters and the then Achadu Peter Achema altered the rotation circle which has persisted. To some members of the four Ata ruling houses injustice has become a clog in the wheel of Igala progress.
This argument has prompted this writer to go into the history of successive Onus/District heads of Ugwolawo. After going through the record of Ugwolawo chiefs, one should be able to conclude whether all Ata heirs must be previous Onu Ugwolawo.
As mentioned earlier, Ugwolawo District was established in 1905, whereas Igala had several Ata before 1905. The first notable Onu Ugwolawo was Atabo Ijomi, the son of Amaga. He was Onu Ugwolawo between 1916 and 1919 when he eventually became Ata Igala. He was of Akogwu Dynasty. He was Onu Ugwolawo when Oguche Akpa was the Ata Igala.
He was succeeded by Obaje Ocheje who became Onu Ugwolawo from Akwu Dynasty between1920 and 1926. Obaje Ocheje became Onu Ugwolawo as Ataboh Ijomi was installed as Ata Igala. When Obaje Ocheje became Ata Igala, his brother, Abalaka Ocheje from the same Akwu Dynasty became Onu Ugwolawo. Let it be noted that two brothers cannot succeed themselves as Ata in Igala history. Therefore Abalaka Ocheje could not have been an Ata heir apparent. Abalaka Ocheje reigned between 1927 and 1935. Ameh Oboni of Ocholi Dynasty succeeded Abalaka Ocheje when he eventually died during his brother’s reign as Ata. Ameh Oboni was Onu Ugwolawo between 1936 and 1941 after which he was given a higher post by the colonial leaders. He was Onu Ugwolawo under Obaje Ocheje also.
Opaluwa Ogwuche Akpa of Ameh Acho Dynasty succeeded Ameh Oboni as Onu Ugwolawo still in the era of Obaje Ocheje between 1941 and 1944. His brother Ichapi Oguche Akpa succeeded him as Onu Ugwolawo between 1944 and 1945 when Ameh Oboni eventually became Ata Igala.
Ichapi spent only one year and died after which he was succeeded by Okutepa Obaje of Ocholi Dynasty between 1945 and 1946, still under Ameh Oboni as Ata Igala. After the death of Okutepa who reigned less than one year, another person of Ocholi Dynasty, Umoru Anekwu, became Onu Ugwolawo between 1946 and 1947. He also died within a year in power.
Amodu Acho Oboni of Ocholi Dynasty succeeded him and reigned for 21 years, between 1947 and 1968. He was Onu Ugwolawo when his kinsman, Ameh Oboni was Ata Igala. Atodo Atabo Ijomi of Akogwu Dynasty succeeded him as Onu Ugwolawo between 1969 and 1980 as Ali Obaje became Ata Igala. When he died another person from Akogwu Dynasty, Shaibu Omaga became Onu Ugwolawo. Shaibu Omaga reigned for ten years, between 1981 and 1991. He was succeeded by Peter Adeboh Opaluwa of Ameh Acho Dynasty who was Onu Ugwolawo for 14 years, 1993 and 2007. He was succeeded by James Abalaka of Akwu Dynasty in year 2007 when Peter Adeboh was elevated to the Ejeh Ofu stool which was created in all local government headquarters during the reign of Alhaji Ali Obaje, the Ata Igala. With the death of Peter Adeboh Opaluwa recently, James Abalaka is expected to assume the Ejeh Ofu stool while a new Onu Ugwolawo has to be installed.
From the forgoing, Ocholi Dynasty has been Onu Ugwolawo for four times, Akwu Dynasty three times, Ameh Acho Dynasty three times and Akogwu Dynasty, three times. A member of Akogwu Dynasty in the social media requested the Ata Igala, His Royal Majesty, Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II should endeavour to install someone from his dynasty to be next Onu Ugwolawo. He based his argument on the bases that there is no single chief from Akogwu Dynasty in present Ata Igala’s council.
Ameh Oboni 1 – Ata Igala
The base of this discussion is to find out whether all Ata Igala must have been Onu Ugwolawo. From the foregoing, only few Ata were Onu Ugwolawo before becoming Ata Igala. Not all Onu Ugwolawo became Ata Igala and not all Onu Ugwolawo were expected to be Ata Igala as some Ata picked their brothers who they knew could not succeed them to be Onu Ugwolawo. The Onu Ugwolawo stool started from the era of Ataboh Ijomi Amaga in 1916; all Ata before Ataboh Ijomi Amaga were never Onu Ugwolawo. It would therefore be a misnomer to claim that Onu Ugwolawo is Ata Igala heir apparent.
