By our reporter
Five clans out of the six native clans of Ihima, namely, Ure, Ohueta, Odumi, Ohionwa and Oha in a letter of gratitude signed on their behalf by their traditional rulers, the leadership of Ihima Welfare Association, (IWA) the headship of Ihima King Makers Council and Ohi of Ihima as the Paramount ruler of the land, have praised Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello for his Government’s decision to abrogate what they called the ” non-existent Chieftaincy title of Obobanyi of Ihima.
The letter which was dated 16th January, 2024 reads in parts:
” We hereafter named as the Ogasube of Ure, the Ohiomata of Odumi, the Obobanyi of Ohueta, to the Obobanyi of Ohionwa, the Odu of Oha, the Ohi of Ihima, HRH. Ahmed Abraheem Ogido, the Ihima Welfare Association, for and on behalf especially the above named five clans in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, as regards the above titled subject matter hereby wish to appreciate and convey our sincere and eternal gratitude for the fair minded and just decision of your Excellency and that of the entire administration in abrogating the hitherto non-existent, divisive and controversial Chieftaincy title of “OBOBANYI OF IHIMA.”
Still expressing their deep appreciation for the government’s interest in bringing permanent peace to Ihima, the community leaders wrote:
” The baseless adoring of Chieftaincy title of Obobanyi of Ihima’ has been the source or cause of periodic shedding of blood in Ihima. But with your Excellency’s abrogation of the title of ‘Obobanyi of Ihima’ avoidable loss of lives and property in Ihima will cease. And the consequence of seizure of these sad occurrence will be the restoration of peace, unity, harmony and brotherly love in Ihima and by extension the whole Egbira land.
The community ended their letter by expressing their prayers to God to let the Governor end his tennure successfully.”Our prayer and heartfelt wishes is that Your Excellency will end your tennure as Kogi Governor on a very successful note, even as we pledge our unalloyed loyalty and support to your Excellency’s Government and that of the in- coming Ododo Ahmed Usman’s administration as Governor of Kogi State. They concluded.
The letter was signed virtually by the most critical stakeholders of Ihima Community. They are HRH. Alhaji Ahmed Ogido, the Ohi of Ihima and the Paramount ruler of the Okehi Area Traditional Council, HRH. Chief Ononivami Jegede Folorunsho, Ogasube of Ure clan, HRH. James Otaru, Ohiomata of Odumi, HRH. Omonori Suberu Aliu, Obobanyi of Ohueta, HRH. Dr. Jimoh Ahmed Eneji, Obobanyi of Ohionwa clan, HRH. Hasan Aje, Idu of Oha, Chairman of Ihima Kingmakers’Council, Chief Isaac Jegede, Ihima Welfare Association, IWA, Abunakar Bello and Dr Isa-Ochepa Muritala as National Secretary of Ihima Welfare Association.
