MY LAST CRY FOR OPALUWA OGWUCHE

I actively participated in the process of selecting the new Atta, at least to the extent an Otalaka like me is permitted to. I was a champion of the arguments in favour of Idakwo Ameh. I never had difficulty in declaring my support for him. I did this vigorously until he got his ears pierced, that became a turning point for my reasoning. I mean I withdrew my support for him and I did this too as a matter of justice and fairness.

Now that we have an Atta who has not just assumed the throne but has started exercising administrative powers, any argument as to the genuineness or otherwise of the selection of Idakwo can only be treated as a mere academic exercise that may not have any effect on reality.  That is why I consider now to be ripe for this piece; at least, nobody can reasonably suggest that I am working for Idakwo, Adebo, Isah, Akwu or any other contender as they then were.

While we were trying to select a successor for Ali Obaje, what we did as a matter of routing was to gather at the gate of the palace as soon as it is sunset and certainly, an elder will come to address us on the developments. Ranging from the Ita session to the last laps of the coronation, we always had briefings there and it was at a point like a routing press conference as we always had questions to ask and we got answers.

Baba Onalo was the man who was always there to brief us. A very old man with several facial marks, his age never hampered him from coming to brief us every evening.  Though I didn’t know his house, he always came in from Okete’cheje area and he was always wearing a smile on the face, his smiling nature was so obvious that you can clearly see his tribal marks run up and down his chicks across the valleys created by his dimples.

When the Government of Kogi appointed Idakwo based on the recommendation by the Traditional Council, we became happy and agitated, we couldn’t hide our anxiety. Though it was obvious to everybody what the position was as at then, we still enjoyed the act of coming to wait for Baba Onalo at the palace gate to get first hand information.

Then one of such days, we gathered waiting for him but he didn’t come as early as expected. Then he eventually came but wearing a different look. Baba appeared guilty; his steps could say it let alone his face. When he eventually spoke, he said just a few words. 

“Today, Idakwo’s coronation ritual has reached the peak; this is the exact point Opaluwa Ogwuche was before he was short changed. I feel so sorry for the man because that thing may have caused his death, may the ancestors forgive us if we have erred again”.

After hearing these words, I began to think, to ask questions, have we done the right thing? Have we been fair? Does this meet justice?

After a careful thought, I distilled three issues for determination and I am sending this mail maybe anybody can help in resolving my issues:

ISSUE 1, Is it true that we have four ruling families in Igala Kingdom? 

ISSUE 2, If issue 1 above is answered in the affirmative, then is the procedure not a straight rotational process.

ISSUE 3, If it is a straight rotational process, is it therefore proper for just two families to rule for almost 100 years and exchanging batten for three times? Vis: Obaje Ocheje to Ameh Oboni to Ali Obaje to Idakwo Ame while the other two families are left without a chance?

I beg to submit that we may not have done the needful. It is proper to avoid the kind of misunderstanding and possible miscarriage of justice we had the last time and the only way we can get this done is to demand from those who are in charge to tell us in clear terms if they have abolished the other two families.

They should also be bold to tell us the next family that is in waiting to rule. I believe the time to right all the wrongs can never be better than now. At least let this be our last cry for Opaluwa Ogwuche, the Atta that never be, the man who had his ears pierced as the last ritual towards becoming an Atta but was stopped by faceless forces. 

Speak out Igala Traditional Rulers! It is never wrong to ask.

TJ Idachaba, Idah, Kogi State