Posted by The Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, HRM Ado Ibrahim, has been charged by the Kogi State Government with fulfilling earlier threats to shun President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit when he was in the state to commission projects.
The first class monarch had received a letter of inquiry from the State Government, via the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, accusing him of disobedience.
In a statement released on Monday, Kogi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Salami Momodu Ozigi, said he visited the monarch in his palace to inform him of the historic presidential visit, but Ohinoyi threatened to boycott the projects’ commissioning if the inquiry was not withdrawn.
He said, “I personally visited Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and I duly told him of the scheduled of incident.
“Even though he replied negatively, saying he wouldn’t go, I encouraged and pleaded with him to graciously go in light of the significance of the project and especially the president who would commission it.
It is now widely known that he made good on his bad behavior out of willful disloyalty and insubordination to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Executive Governor of the State, not because of any illness or uncontrollable circumstances.
While noting that the president’s official trip to Kogi State to commission projects was not restricted to Okene alone, the commissioner stated that the president, the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty, Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, Attah Igala, and other monarchs were all present to receive the president at the designated location in Lokoja. They also included all First Class Chiefs from both the East and West Senatorial Districts and
He recalled that the rebuilt palace of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, which the president had ordered, had been the official palace of each succeeding Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, but he questioned why the revered ruler had kept using his own abode as the palace.
It is known that the late Alh. Sanni Omolori, the then Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR when he visited Okene in the year 1984 as a Military Head of State. Every son and daughter of Ebiraland should be proud of the palace, which has undergone extensive remodeling and construction.
“Albeit, the current Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alh. Dr. Ado Ibrahim CON opted, on his own, to stay in his personal house and use it as a palace, that does not erase the fact that there is an official palace built over the years for Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Because of this, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was properly consulted and gave his approval when the notion to remodel the palace to make it suitable for the venerated stool of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was presented.
The Central Senatorial District’s Graded Chiefs were all present in solidarity with the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, whose private residence is just a few meters from the location of the palace’s commissioning and who is the project’s primary beneficiary, to stay put in his home while the President was honored and received, he said.
He added that the present administration in Kogi State led Alh. Yahaya Bello is a responsive and responsible government and will not allow any person or group of persons no matter how highly placed to ridicule, humiliate and cast aspersion on or disdain the genuine intention of this administration to usher unprecedented development in the State.
“Actions that are tailored towards disloyalty, insubordination and that which tends to affect the peace, security, good image and cohesion of the State will not be treated with levity. This administration will continue to ensure that this State is governed by the rule of law, respect for authority and humanity and the guarantee of equal rights for all citizens.
“Let the general public be rest assured that the government will handle this matter with utmost objectivity devoid of any sentiment. The panel that will be set up to look into the matter will be dispassionate, diligent and rational and will ensure fairness, equity and justice.”