Query: Kogi Govt Gives Ohinoyi 48 Hours To Re-Submit Response

From Our Correspondent

Kogi State government has given the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Ado Ibrahim, 48 hours to re-submit his response to a recent query given to him with the appropriate title of the stool as recognised by the Kogi State Chieftaincy Law 2006 and his letter of appointment.

The monarch was issued a query for his alleged untoward conduct during President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state.

He had in his response marked ‘Ref No ETC/CHI/35/VOL.II/33,’ dated January 6 addressed himself as “Atta Ebira” instead of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

Declaring that Atta Ebira title is unknown to the laws of the state, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Salami Deedat in a letter addressed to the monarch noted that any correspondence with the Atta title was unacceptable for official purpose.

According to the commissioner, “Your personal decision to use the title of Atta Ebira and not Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in your official communication is at variance with Sections 19a, 27(2b), 33 and Schedules II and V of Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition and Establishment of Traditional Councils in Kogi State) Law, 2006 and your letter of appointment with ref no GHLK/KGS/22, dated June 2, 1997.

“The title of Atta Ebira is alien to law and not recognised by government. Therefore any correspondence with that title is unacceptable for official purpose.”

It would be recalled that the monarch had allegedly disrespected the offices of President Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello when the president visited the state on December 29, 2022 to commission landmark projects executed by the current administration.

Prominent indigenes of Ebiraland had, following the controversy generated by the state government’s query, flayed their traditional ruler on the issue, saying monarchs must respect constituted authority “and not play God.”

The commissioner’s letter reads: “I wish to refer to your letter ref no ETC/CHI/35/VOL.II/33, dated January 6 in respect of the above subject matter and to inform you that the said letter under reference, which ought to be your response to a letter of query was not conveyed with the appropriate title of your stool as recognised by the Kogi State Chieftaincy Law 2006 and your letter of appointment.

“Your personal decision to use the title of Atta Ebira and not Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in your official communication is at variance with Sections 19a, 27(2b), 33 and Schedules II and V of Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition and Establishment of Traditional Councils in Kogi State) Law, 2006 and your letter of appointment issued to you with ref no GHLK/KGS/22 dated June 2, 1997. The title of Atta Ebira is alien to law and not recognised by government. Therefore any correspondence with that title is unacceptable for official purpose.”