Query: Ebira leaders back Kogi govt, say monarch ruling like antagonist

Some leaders of Ebiraland in Kogi State have flayed their traditional ruler, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, over his failure to join other dignitaries to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello during the President’s recent visit to the state.

The Kogi State Government, in a letter of query dated January 5, 2023, and addressed to the monarch, had said the action of the traditional ruler was disloyal and disrespectful to the offices of President Buhari and Governor Bello.

The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, who is the Vice President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, had failed to join other dignitaries to welcome Buhari to the state on Thursday, December 29, 2022.

President Buhari was in the state to inaugurate some projects including the palace of the Ohinoyi, which was built by Governor Bello.

However, the leaders of the community while speaking on the development via a statement jointly signed by the Ohiotenyete of Ebiraland and President of Nigeria Institute for Industrial Security, Isa Ozi Salami, and Secretary, Ebira Peoples Human Rights Defence, Okene, Salihu Abdullahi, on Monday, said monarchs must respect constituted authority and should not play God.

They described the Ohinoyi’s action against President Buhari and Governor Bello as “untenably reprehensible, to say the least”.

READ ALSO: Kogi govt queries monarch for refusing to welcome Buhari, Gov Bello

The indigenes noted that the Ohinoyi allegedly assumed the position of a “permanent antagonist” to the state government by words and actions, stressing that the monarch has totally derailed from the purviews of the assigned roles of his office by taking sides in politics in his words and deeds, instead of being neutral and act as a father to the residents of the state as a traditional ruler.

The Ebira leaders, while declaring their support for the query to Ibrahim, said “there has been no regime in Kogi State that has not queried Alhaji Ado”.

“The monarch’s activities have allegedly been rubbishing the exalted throne, which he occupies, unlike his forebears who had conducted themselves with grace, honour and dignity deserving of the exalted office they occupied,” they said.

The Ebira indigenes further enjoined the Kogi State Government to take necessary actions against the monarch should he fail to respond to the query issued to him within the stipulated period, saying the government must not allow its sanctity of authority to be violated in such “a brazen manner” without consequences.

“However, should the Ohinoyi refuse to answer the official query issued to him within the stipulated timeframe, we call on the state government not to hesitate to do the needful promptly, following due process. Heavens will not fall.

“If nothing is done to redress this situation, it means Alh Ado Ibrahim is above everybody, including the Government. Today, none of our six Ohis find his private house safe and conducive to attend meetings or functions, yet he is reluctant to shift venue for meetings to the ultra-modern Ohinoyi’s Palace. We have no dynasty in Ebiraland and can never accept an imposition,” they stated.

The indigenes equally urged the Kogi State Government to implement the court judgement granting Uhuodo community autonomy and entitling them to a separate Ohi stool in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.

They also called on the state government to “make eligibility to the stool of Ohinoyi exclusive to Ohis only to exclude money bags from capturing our stool again.”

“The stool should never be available to the highest bidder while doggedly sticking to the existing rotation order,” the indigenes stated.

The Star