I have read and heard the history of Late Alh Ibrahim Onoruoyiza Atta, our Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, from people across different clans and religious faiths, yet I still don’t understand why he was dethroned. We’ve had other Ohinoyis who performed within their capacities, but none have matched his achievements to date. He was the first leader in Ebiraland to embrace both Western and Islamic education. The waterworks, prison yard, and road networks in Ebiraland today are largely products of his visionary leadership. Yet, despite his development efforts, a conspiracy led to his dethronement. Ironically, those behind that decision could not achieve half of what he did. He wasn’t celebrated then, but today, his reign is referenced as a benchmark for development. His reward from the Ebira people at the time was dethronement.
Before the emergence of Alh Yahaya Bello (now FGYB) as Governor of Kogi State, Ebiraland used to experience severe political crises every four years during elections, and also during the annual Echane or Ekuechi festivals. Among the things Ebira people long desired since the creation of Kogi State were having one of our own as governor and establishing a university in our land. Today, the man who fulfilled those long standing dreams is facing a smear campaign not from outsiders, but from his own people.
What happened when we first had a governor from Ebiraland? There was a conspiracy by fellow Ebiras who testified in court against him in favor of Hon. Faleke. During his second tenure, an Ebira person filed a petition seeking his disqualification, knowing well that if he were disqualified, the next governor would be from another tribe. Yet, there was no unified voice to defend him for the interest of our land.
It’s understandable if other tribes envy FGYB’s achievements everyone wants one of their own in power. But why do we, the very people who prayed for this opportunity, now despise it? How are we celebrating the man who built the first university in our land? While some politicians before him groomed thugs capable of handling guns better than trained soldiers, FGYB raised leaders across all levels in the state. He empowered people from every ward and clan in Ebiraland, today, you’ll find FGYB’s products everywhere. No politician is perfect, but some are certainly better than others. If we objectively assess FGYB’s eight years compared to the political atmosphere in Ebiraland before him, we can confidently say he liberated the land from political and festival related violence to a more peaceful and progressive environment.
If not for his leadership, Ebiraland would have witnessed another crisis during the recent Imamship tussle. He not only became the first governor from Ebiraland, but also handed over power to another son of the soil. Before his administration, Ebiraland was often in crisis during senatorial and local government elections. In 2007, for example, Senator Ogembe’s house was burned, as was that of Alh Yahaya Karaku during their respective candidacies. But today, despite political differences, not even a stone was thrown at Sen Natasha’s house, unlike in 2007 when gunshots during rallies left many women injured.
Today, there are no political boundaries between parties in Ebiraland like before. Back then, the ruling party and the opposition had clearly defined limits. Through his New Direction Agenda, many youths who would have been used as thugs are now appointees or even elected officials. This never happened before. Some political leaders hate FGYB for transforming former street boys into leaders, they can’t stand to see someone they once used become relevant. But FGYB does not discriminate. No matter your relationship with him, you cannot go around carrying harmful weapons under his leadership, unlike in the past.
When I compare the challenges faced by our late Ohinoyi, which led to his dethronement despite his contributions, with what FGYB is facing today, I’ve come to realize something: when a society adopts a bad habit as the norm, anyone who tries to change the narrative is seen as the enemy. Such a person will face condemnation, attacks, both physical and spiritual especially from those who benefit from the old, corrupt ways.
That’s why there was a gang-up against our late Ohinoyi, and the same is happening to FGYB now. Those who benefit from the status quo view change as a threat. If many of us who insist FGYB deserves commendation were alive during the reign of Ohinoyi Atta, his dethronement would not have happened because we value progress and would resist it. Likewise, those sponsoring the smear campaigns against FGYB today would likely have supported the dethronement of our late Ohinoyi if they lived then, because they are allergic to development.
– Engr Ira Habib writes from Lokoja.
