I have read different reports against and in support of the call by Ebira Peoples Association for rotation of Kogi State Council of Chiefs’ chairmanship among the different monarchial kingdoms in the state.
Since the creation of the state, the stool of Attah Igala has retained the chairmanship of this council with Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Obaro of Kabba and Ohimege of Koton Karfe enjoying different honourabe seats in the council.
The call for a tenured rotational chairmanship of the traditional council is not new, it has always been on the lips of leaders from the central and western senatorial districts of the state.
While Igala hold on firmly to the believe that they deserve the chairmanship seat in perpetuity, Ebiras and Okuns think otherwise. Non-Igalas believe the permanent chairmanship status conferred on Attah Igala makes them second class citizens in the state.
Before the creation of Osun state, there were agitations that the chairmanship of Oyo State traditional council be rotated between Alaafin of Oyo, Soun Ogbomoso, Ooni of Ife and probably the Olubadan. The creation of Osun state reduced the tension, though the agitation has not ceased, especially in Oyo state. So. the current exchange of words in Kogi state is not peculiar to us. It is normal.
First, it must be established publicly why the Attah Igala was made chairman of the council in the first place. Is it because only Igalas ruled the state before Yahaya Bello? Is it because the Attah Igala stool is the oldest and most revered in the state? Is EPA seeking rotation now that their kinsman is Governor?
Secondly, and more importantly, we seek to know if the chairmanship of traditional council bequeath special benefits to subjects in the preferred kingdom.
It is worrisome to see very young folks engaging each other over chieftainship issues. If there is no benefit accruing from the disputed position, why the noise? Or, is it just all about pride?
Government must come out and engage the people on this ephemeral but obviously sentimental discourse. Nothing must be done in secrecy as all Kogite deserve to know why a decision is being taken and what they stand to benefit from such.
– Abidemi Olalekan writes from Lokoja.
