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Prince Armstrong Idachaba
By Gabriel Agbonika
Prince of the ruling Ame-Achor House to the throne of Attah Igala, Prince Armstrong Idachaba has expressed worriedness over the involvement of external forces in the process of selecting a new Attah Igala nine months after the demise of Idakwo Ameh-Oboni
He believes strongly that the external forces through financial inducement and political manipulation from within and outside the State has been creating confusion and crisis in order to delay the emergence of a credible candidate for the exalted throne in Igala land.
In an exclusive interview held last weekend in Abuja, Prince Idachaba, a Professor of Mass Communication and Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC), said that the Igala people of Kogi State are not happy that the induced collonial events of 1956 leading to an imposition of late Alhaji Aliyu Obaje on Igala people is being reanacted today in order to divide the people and weaken the influence/position of the exalted traditional institution of Attah Igala in Kogi State.
According to him, a major crack is being created within the Ruling Family so as to frustrate the emergence of a credible and acceptable candidate for the position of Attah Igala. In his words, “we, the Ameh-Achor Rulling Family, have realized that the process of selecting a replacement to late Michael Idakwo Ameh-Oboni, who died nine months ago is shrouded in crisis. This is highly regretted and a great concern to most Igala people. I want to make this point clear that religious and financial manipulation has crept into this matter of selecting a credible candidate for the exalted throne of Attah Igala.
He acknowledges that God gives power to whom He chooses but stressed that the Ame-Achor House did not expect this situation to come up again especially when it is remembered that it has happened like this about one hundred years ago. In his opinion it will be much more disastrous for the family to go through a process that would be depended on the test of law court.
In his words, ” what I have seen so far is that there is an extreneous forces trying to divide the Ruling House in choosing a replacement that could distort the process of selecting a credible candidate for the exalted throne of Attah Igala.”
He, therefore, advised that since it has been accepted that Ameh-Achor House should produce the new Attah, the family should be allowed a free hand to choose the right candidate strictly within the ambit of law and Tradition of the people devoid of any financial and political inducement.
Credit, he said, “should be given to Idris Wada for his vision and decision in 2015 to amend the laws and heal injuries/ incidents which created the unfortunate historical distortion of 1956. We should not allow this to happen again.”
He therefore appealed to the Ruling family in particular and Igala people in general not to do anything that will jeopadize and distort the process of selecting the new Attah Igala as soon a possible. “We should follow the law strictly as was amended in 2015 as well as having respect for our traditional values. I am hopeful that by the grace of God this crisis will be resolved sooner than later.”
Prince Idachaba urges the State government to do the needful by taking appropriate decision that will sustain and strengthen the rule of law which all institutions and tradition of the people depended upon for peaceful survival.
Meanwhile, many concerned Igala people have been reacting to the Review Committee Report led by Chief Boniface Musa (Onu Ife) for recommending Mathew Opaluwa for the throne of Attah Igala two weeks ago.
In his opinion, Jacob Yahaya Etu, one of the ruling family elders and a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, said it is a great disappointment for the Committee to select a person who was never nominated, interviewed screened or recommended by the Ruling House over and above his elder brother, Samuel Opaluwa. This is a great violation of the law guiding the process for selecting a replacement to late Michael Idakwo Ameh-Oboni.
On the allegation that Mr Samuel Opaluwa has health challenges, the retired Police Commissioner said that the Review Committee members were wrong to have relied on speculations by other contestants without asking for evidence of physical and mental medical records to show that he would be incapable of performing the responsibility of Attah Igala. “As a matter of fact, no one has subjected Mr Samuel Opaluwa to test over the so-called health challenges. Yet it is on record that he, Samuel, physically attended the Review Committee meeting at Anyigba, drove himself to the venue of the meeting and wrote memos before the panel just to show his degree of medical fitness for the exalted position.”
In his own letter to the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lokoja, dated 23/4/2021, A.S. Akpala who is standing for Mr. Samuel Opaluwa, stated that unlike the other contestants, “Samuel Opaluwa was validly screened, interviewed and nominated by the relevant kingmakers in Aju-Ameacho Ruling House upon his application to that House.” The letter further pointed out that Samuel Opaluwa’s nomination was accordingly forwarded to the Igala-mela Kingmakers in line with the procedure and Regulations for the Selection and Ascension to the stool contained in Kogi State Legal Notice No.2 of 2015. But again, the Review Committee which was set up by the Igala Traditional Council headed by the Onu Ife, Chief Boniface Musa, (after the confusion created by Etemayi Igalamela, Chief Abel Etu )has now recommended Mr. Mathew Opaluwa Oguche (a far junior brother to Samuel Opaluwa) who was never nominated and recommended by the kingmakers of Aju-Ameacho ruling House in their screening meeting at Idah on 19/11/2020″
The lawyer to Samuel Opaluwa expressed his anger over the manner the Review Panel shoved aside all the obvious facts contained in his presentation to the Committee only for the committee members to recommend someone who has never been nominated and recommended to by the relevant Kingmakers from Aju-Ameacho Ruling House, and who is far junior in age to Samuel Opaluwa as candidate for appointment to the exalted throne of Attah Igala.
He has therefore appealed to the State government to intervene by ensuring that Samuel Opaluwa who has met all the requirements for the exalted position of Attah Igala to be recommended to the Executive Governor – in – Council for appointment as Attah Igala appropriately.
