By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Worried by some recent unpleasant developments in Ebiraland, specifically, the query issued to His Royal Majesty,the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim by the Kogi State Governnent, the Ebira Peoples Association,EPA,the umbrella body for the various associations in Ebiraland, has resolved to interfere with each party to resolve the contending issues and ensure peace.
This is one of the resolutions of the Association in its communique after an Emergency General Congress Session on January 15,2023 at Okene Town Hall, Inike, Okene Local Government Area of the state.
The communique,signed by Ohida Haruna Abdulmaliq, the National Publicity Secretary of the Association and a copy made available to The Reporters on Tuesday, EPA resolved that:
“That all forms of unguarded comments, write-ups and analysis in public spaces, whether for or against any of the parties will no longer be acceptable by the community. Any such act will be considered an affront to the sensitivity of Anebira, and may be met with some consequences communally.
“That the President-General of EPA should take further steps by addressing the Ebira public via community radio and other possible platforms, giving
necessary charge and appeals, going forward;
” That the leadership of EPA should draw up a team of eminent Ebira personalities to interface separately with His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State and His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Dr. Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi Ebira on some key matters of critical interest to the Ebira nation.”
In the course of the session, EPA declared:”That query is an understandable idea in official settings and the one in question should not be hurriedly interpreted to mean a personal rift between the Executive Governor of Kogi State and Ohinoyi of Ebira;
“That whoever has any personal score to settle with either the Governor or Ohinoyi should spare the window provided by the query and its concomitants for the interest of peace and tranquility of our land. At best, such person or persons should contrive their own means to settle the score and not to leverage the ongoing situation for vendetta;
“That the reckless manner with which many jumped to the media space (social media platforms) to queue for and against any of the parties involved stands condemned.
“That while the freedom of expression of citizens, as provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is respected in matters of public concern, sufficient restraint should be exercised in a delicate issue such as the one at hand. The message of peace, understanding and development of the land should preoccupy all well-meaning Anebira.
” That our energy must be refocused tactically so as not to lose sight of the necessary preparation for some very important national exercises ahead of us, such as the 2023
general elections and population census.
“The Governor should take practical steps to douse the needless tension being generated in the last few days, while the Ohinoyi on his part should continue to remain a father figure to all Anebira.”
Some of the bodies and organizations, actively represented at the Congress include, Ebira Elders Council; the
Traditional Council; the Body of Daudus; body of Odeyiani; De Noble Club 10; Ebira Senior Academics (ESA); Ebira Youth Congress (EYC); National Association of Ebira Students (NAES); Ihima Welfare Association (IWA); Okengwe Development Association
(ODA).
Others are; Adavi Development Association (ADA); Jamatu Nasrl Islam (JNI); Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN); EL-Birru Muslim Association of Nigeria (EMAN), Ebira Renaissance Group (ERG), EYC Elders Council, People Living with Disabilities (PWD); Pals Collectives; Harmony Club of Nigeria; Jatto FM Radio; Kogi Central Market Women; Ebira Traders Union; Kogi Central Association of Peace Ambassadors (KCAPA).and Ebira Youth Elites Nigeria (EYE-N).
Others are, Agada Group of Clans, Okovi Descendant Union; representatives of Ebira communities in Kaduna (EPA); Nasarawa (EPA); Lokoja (EPA) and other community based organizations in Ebira land.
The Reporters recalls that Kogi State Government had queried the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr.Ado Ibrahim,for allegedly disrespected the offices of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
The query is related to the President’s visit on Thursday, December 29, 2022, to commission landmark projects executed by the current administration in the state to which the Ohinoyi responded.
However, not satisfied with the way the Ohinoyi’s reponse to the query, the state government gave the royal father 48 hours to re-submit his response to the query with the appropriate title of the stool as recognised by the Kogi State Chieftaincy Law 2006 and his letter of appointment.
According to the state governnent, the monarch had, in his response letter marked: “Ref. No. ETC/CHI/35/VOL.II/33”, dated January 6, 2023, addressed himself as “Atta Ebira” instead of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
