By Adai Steven J. Yakubu.
The Kogi Central Elders Council has noted with grave concern the happenings which took place during and since December 29th, 2022.
We thank God for His mercies in keeping us alive to date in spite of the pandemonium in the land.
We also thank God that Mr. President had come safely and commissioned all the legacy projects, thus lifting the image of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello and the people of Kogi State. CONGRATULATIONS!
The on-going impasse between the Kogi State Government and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland must have been worrisome to all Ebira sons and daughters of Ebiraland, particularly organizations which aims and objectives are geared towards ensuring peace and progress of the area, key among which is Kogi Central Elders Council.
This is why the Council is coming out with an appeal to all parties concerned to sheath their swords and subject the whole saga to a round-table and amicable resolution.
We are aware that the State Government has issued a query to the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Dr. Ado Ibrahim, CON, for not being present at the designated venue to welcome the Nigerian President, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, when he visited Kogi State to commission some projects executed by the State Government of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello on 29th December, 2022, to which His Royal Majesty has replied.
We are also aware that a fatal bomb blast also occurred near the Ohinoyi’s private palace, earlier same day, claiming the lives of some innocent people and damaging structures in the vicinity of the palace and its environs.
Since then, there have been brickbats by individuals and groups regarding the rationale or otherwise of the query.
The Kogi Central Council sees these developments as not improving the image and progressive status of Ebira people which are nationally and internationally acclaimed and envied.
It is in this regard that the Council would wish to appeal to both the Kogi State Government and His Royal Majesty the Ohinoyi to consider a peaceful settlement of the impasse in order not to destabilize the relative social peace now prevailing across Kogi Central.
While we commend the State Government on the security architecture of the State, we appeal to Government to unravel the perpetrators of the bomb blast in order to bring the culprits to book.
We wish to seize this opportunity to commend the State Government for the legacy projects commissioned by the President in Kogi Central during the visit.
Let us not overlook what promotes our developments that have come to us, which should normally give joy and unity to the land.
Finally, we wish to make a clarion call to all Ebira personalities and elite, home and aboard, to make a quick intervention in order to douse the heat and potential bad blood that can result from the present stand-off.
We appeal to those who have engaged in fueling the crisis with past issues of animosity to refrain from such acts. We should rather preach peace. Let us remember the unity and brotherhood with which our ancestors fought our enemies and saved our Ebira community from external conquests of which we are proud today and pride ourselves as an unconquered community.
With brotherly love and peace, we can always achieve developmental progress and fame for ourselves and posterity.
Therefore, all hands of Anebira should be on deck to ensure the amicable solution of this saga, such that the State Government and the Ohinoyi are back in good relations and harmony.
Long live Kogi Central Long live Kogi State, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Adai Steven J. Yakubu is the chairman,Kogi Central Elders Council.
