Attah Igala: Another mistep?

It will appear that some people are bent on disgracing the Igala race. A race with established civilization of culture, politics, tradition and history.

Reliable and credible information coming from the Igala Area Traditional Council indicates that efforts by some eternally self centred Chiefs to discredit the good image and reputation of the Acting Chairman of the council of Chiefs.

Recall that following the complaints and criticisms that greeted the first selection proceess undertaken by the well discredited Etemahi, the Area traditional council constituted a panel of six to evaluate the Etemahi’s report.

That was a very good and credible step to restoring justice and fairness to the process. The Chairman, HRH Chief Boniface Musa and Secretary Daikwo were hailed and commended as honest and credible Igala Chiefs.

The panel met took evidences, asked vital questions, recorded written and oral submissions from the candidates and interacted with the candidates.

It is a fact that there is a report of the proceedings, which carefully followed the critical provisions of the appointment process.

Insider details indicate that two chiefs unequivocally stated that they won’t be bribed.

For those two we are proud of you. But three others and their scribes, decided to put the selection process to a vote.

Selection of an Attah subjected to money induced votes, not law and tradition.

Is there a valid nomination from the lineage whose turn it is to rule?

Simply put which candidate was nominated by the Ajuameachor ruling house- in line with the law, culture and tradition? That question was answered at the panel.

Only one candidate was chosen at a public meeting of the ruling house, where all the contesting candidates were screened and interviewed according to tradition.

The chosen candidate according to the law and tradition is the eldest among the candidates.

He is not incapcitated obviously as he drove himself to the panel sitting and consciously read and write in full public glare.

Subterfuge.

It will appear from the above that this is a simple process, easily concluded, and so it was untill as widely reported a certain ‘Gowon’ whose credibility has always been in the mud allegedly surfaced on the scene with bag loads of money allegedly delivered by an ambitious young man called ‘Muri’ whose hope to be Governor of Kogi is predicated on acquiring and installing an Attah Igala as stooge. God forbid.

This new development will obviously stall the process of enthroning a new Attah’ Igala kingdom predicated on an unknown person’s ambition and to rubbish the rigorous process and the expectations of a well thought out arrangement by the state government in line with the gazzeted procedure.

For the process of selection of the new reverred Attah Igala locked on the ambition of an opportunist both at the corridor of power and leadership will be a glaring undoing to the Igala kingdom.

But, since the governor had insisted on due process with advice from his predecessors and the traditional council/panel, in line with due process, it is going to be an exercise in futility as he will not compromise the existing peace, stability, securtiy of lives and properties on the altar of an individual novice’s political adventure.

The joy is that the Governor is not unaware of the process, procedures including the law and tradition guiding each areas, as he successfully did it in one of the major languages in the state, stabilised an existing crisis that was subjected to litigation in his area, among many others.

So anybody thinking otherwise to misinform and hijack the process to the new political sherrif in town, will not pass the test of the desire of the state government to install the right person as the Attah of Igala kingdom.

Going to Court

As it stands, the Igala people and indeed the Kogi State government must stand up for justice and fairness. If any iota of the well laid provisions is manipulated, then the courts will decide.

We have a strong conviction that the State government is not by any strings swayed from the due process embarked upon as directed when the process started.

As a leader who believed strongly in fairness, equity, justice and fair play, he is not expected to succumb to detractors and ill advisers who are bent on using every opportunity to bring down his administration, using Attah Igala scenario as a credible example when succeeded.

This is a combination and grand plan within and outside the corridor of power, whose wizardry to dispense their newly found fortune to alter the age long Igala kingdom tradition cocooned to their inordinate ambition.

May we save ourselves from shame.

Achema Achegbulu writes from Umomi, Ofu Local Government, Kogi State.