Residents in Kogi State have welcomed the emergence of a new Attah Igala, Alaji Opaluwa Oguche a year after his predecessor, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni went on hunting expedition.
However, while some welcomed the appointment of the Attah designate some observed that the protracted disagreement before the final appointment was a snag.
They observed that the community was not being represented effectively in the last 12 months due to the disagreement on who should succeed to the throne.
According to Emmanuel Adama, the emergence of a new Attah has given back the Igala people the lost image of prominence that they enjoyed over the years in the state.
“The absence of Attah, who is the Chairman, Kogi Council of Chiefs, has reduced the image of Igala in the state and Nigeria at large to a ridiculous extent.’’
He thanked God that the position is being reclaimed by the appointment of a new Attah, adding that whatever bickering that existed among the contestants in the past should be put behind them for the progress of the people.
Alhaji Abubakar Ameh, a retired civil servant thanked God that Igala is about to have one voice when it comes to taking decision on issues that concern them.
“We had no common voice in taking decisions for almost a year in a state that we are the largest not minding the political permutations that has decimated us”.
Also, Mr. Sam Egwu, told North Central Trust that the stool of Attah has been left vacant for too long leaving the children without parents and hope.
He said that without the Attah, the Igala people have no rallying point and this informed the clamouring for a new Attah.
“The elders said that without an Attah, the Igala have no rallying point”, he said.
He attributed the delay in the emergence of the new Attah to the internal wrangling in the ruling Ameachor dynasty.
Mr. Egwu advised the new monarch to take into consideration that his people had waited for long for his emergence and should work assiduously to ameliorate the situation.
