The process to install a new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi State has heated up as 71 eminent personalities of the tribe have so far indicated interest in occupying the vacant stool, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.
The late Ohinoyi, Dr AbdulRahaman Ado Ibrahim, died on October 29, 2023, making the stool to remain without a head or life since then.
The Kogi State Government had on December 11, 2023 announced the commencement of the succession plan with fanfare.
Consequently, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deedat Ozigi, a lawyer, constituted and inaugurated the committee of king makers to commence the work of selection.
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The committee was empowered to commence receiving and scrutinising application letters between December 11 and 15, 2023 from interested and eligible sons of Ebiraland as prescribed by the law of the succession of the throne.
Barely a week after the official declaration, the secretary of the Ebira Traditional Council, Alhaji Yunusa Sule, said 71 sons and a daughter of the land had filed applications to contest the vacant stool.
The announcement has set the tongue wagging within Ebiraland and beyond as mixed feelings greeted the resultant crowded race.
Many indigenes of the land who spoke with Daily Trust on Sunday claimed that such high number of aspirants had never jostled for the traditional stool since its creation.
Several others said the high number of aspirants the exalted throne was a good omen and in tandem with the enabling law of the stool.
Others also felt the number of aspirants would allow the best to emerge and subsequently usher in quality traditional leadership in Ebiraland.
Historically, Ebira community existed and operated in clans and districts. There was no centralised authority in the pre-colonial period until 1917 when the first paramount ruler emerged.
Among the many clans, five were classified as being principal/districts, namely, Okengwe, Eika, Eganyi, Adavi,and Ihima. They operated independently from each other.
Also, each of the clan/district had its own head or chief and exercised distinct powers.
The Ohinoyi is the title recognised by the law of Ebiraland. The title, Attah of Ebiraland, was said to have been used initially for the position, but it fell out of favour in the 20th century.
The succession process
Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that during the colonial period, the onus was on elders to elect a person deemed qualified for the traditional position. It was done in the principle of rotation amongst the major five recognised clans in the land.
The adopted principle of rotation dominated the pre-colonial and independent period in Ebiraland and was fortified with extant laws by the Kogi State Government.
The stool had produced great rulers in the order of clans/districts, such as Attah Omadivi Abonika (Ogu clan, 1904 to 1917); Attah Ibrahim Chogudo Onoruoiza (Adavi,1917 to 1954); Ohinoyi Muhammad Sani Omolori (Okengwe, 1957 to 1997) and Ohinoyi (Dr) Abdul Rahman Ado Ibrahim( Adavi, June 2, 1997 to 2023).
Extant laws
Daily Trust on Sunday further gathered that the extant laws – Kogi State Chieftaincy Laws (regulating laws), Edict 3 of May 6, 1997 and law number 23 of 2006 that was enacted to strengthen the stool, had spelt out the condition for succession and rotation of the Ohinoyi stool.
Edict number 3 of 1997, which emphasised the procedure for ascension to the throne of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, was said to have come into force on May 6, 1997.
The edict stated, “The stool of the paramount ruler of Ebiraland, who shall be known as Ohinoyi, is hereby established. Ascension to the throne of Ohinoyi whenever it is vacant shall be by rotation among the five traditional districts in Ebiraland.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the five traditional districts in Ebiraland are Adavi, Okengwe, Ihima, Eika and Eganyi.
“All eligible and interested sons of Ebiraland are free to contest for the stool of Ohinoyi under this arrangement provided. Any district that has taken its turn in this rotational order shall not take part until it comes to its turn again.
“This method, apart from being democratic, fair and equitable, also ensures peaceful succession to the throne when the process would have been completed through an open contest each time the stool becomes vacant. The Ebira Area Traditional Council shall remain the council of king makers.”
The edict, therefore, empowers every Ebira person, particularly from the five recognised clans, to aspire to the Ohinoyi throne when the situation presents itself.
Perhaps that facilitated or fertilised ground for the high number of aspirants jostling to succeed the former occupant of the stool, Dr Ado Ibrahim.
In accordance to the regulatory laws, the secretary of the Ebira Traditional Council stated that the screening for qualified persons was in line with edit 97 (3), which was put in place by a former military governor of the state, Colonel B.L Afakeriya and the state government’s chieftaincy law of June 2006.
According to the secretary of traditional council, “The 70 eligible contestants are from four of the five eligible districts of Ebiraland, Okengwe, lhema, Eika, Eganyi and Adavi”.
“The number would have been 71 but the 71st person is a female, Professor Angela Oregwu-Okatahi, who, by our tradition, is not eligible to contest for the stool.”
A breakdown of the aspirants showed that Okene led the list with 39 contestants, followed by Okehi with 20 candidates and Ajaokuta having 7 aspirants, while Adavi has five contestants.
The secretary of the Ebira Traditional Council said the chieftaincy edict, number 3 of May 6, 1997 disqualified candidates from Adavi in the succession race because the late Ohinoyi hailed from the place.
With five candidates from Adavi out and the female professor disqualified on the ground of gender, the race is, therefore, left for 65 candidates from Okene, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ihima respectively.
Among the people said to have indicated interest in the race are a former deputy governor of the state, Dr Philip Salawu(Okehi); former clerk of the National Assembly, Ataba Sani Omolori(Okene) and the Ciroma of Ebiraland, Brigadier- General Yusuf Abubakar Amuda(retd) , Okene); the Ohi of Okengwe, Dr Tijani Muhammed Anaje(Okene).
Reactions
Daily Trust on Sunday reports that the commencement of the process, particularly the disclosure of the number of aspirants, has elicited reactions from stakeholders.
Dr Tom Ohikere, the Ohienube of Ebiraland said, “No matter how crowded a market is, everyone should know their mat.
“Kingship is a destiny devoid of political and economic sentiments. Choosing the next Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is a critical assignment that calls for sincerity of purpose by the concerned authorities.
“The truth remains very constant like the northern star.”
While several others commended the state government for following the process of succession as stipulated by the enabling law of the stool, many others advised that personality and rotational principle rather than sentiment and interest should be strictly adhered to.
According to Dr Yusuf AbdulKareem, a retired civil servant who claimed to be from Obagende, the rotational principle, if implemented to the letter, will give other districts the opportunity to have a taste of the stool besides serving as an elixir of peace and giving a sense of belonging.
AbdulKareem said, “Two districts, Okengwe and Adavi, have dominated the stool for 103 years. Muhammadu Sani Omolori from Okengwe spent 40 years on the throne, while Attah Ibrahim Chogudo Onoruoiza was in charge 37 years. Dr Ado Ibrahim was there for 26 years. The late Attah and Ohinoyi from Adavi spent 63 years.
“If they want us to take them seriously, the kingmakers, including the state government, should focus on candidates from Eganyi, Eika and Ihima districts that have never produced the Ohinoyi, by the edict of 1997.”
The candidates
Several stakeholders who craved to speak under the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said that except few with questionable credentials, many of the applicants were duly qualified in character, academics and connection/exposure to occupy the stool.
Among all the aspirants, Ataba Sani-Omolori, a former clerk of the National Assembly, is a son of a former Ohinoyi, Mohammed Sani-Omolori.
He is said to have been very close to the late Ohinoyi but currently said to be enmeshed in a family feud.
Also, Brigadier-General Yusuf Abubakar (retd) from Okene (Okengwe) is the only aspirant with military background and appears to be enjoying a certain measure of respect among his kinsmen. He may become a victim of rotational principle if the edict is religiously followed.
A stakeholder who simply wants to be identified as Abdulmaliki said, “Dr Philip Salawu has character for the throne but religious factor may whittle him down.
“In all, the present government has the final say as its interest may influence, to a great extent, the final outcome of the selection exercise. So far, the process is transparent as prescribed by law.”
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