•Demand removal of newly-installed replacement

Representatives of all the Koton-Karfe ruling houses and the kingmakers have rejected last week’s deposition of their monarch, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isakoto by the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Members of the eight ruling houses and the kingmakers stated this when they addressed a news conference in Abuja yesterday afternoon.

The kingmakers who signed the communique were: Alhaji Dauda Mukailu Ondaki Ogbani (Madaki); Abdullahi Bako (Ohimozi Ogbani) Dangara; Saidu Ada Sani (Asanya Ogbani) Agaba.

The ward heads whose signatures also appeared on the document were: Alhaji Saidu Hussaini (Odaki); Mallam Ishiaku Mamman Sani Ukwo Okoriko); Saidu Ada Sani (Ukwo Onyakwu); Abdullahi Bako (Ukwo Odohu); Mallam Sulaiman Ahmed (Odaki Onkyaku) and Saliu Usman (Ukwo Ebe).

The governor deposed and banished three monarchs in the state in a broadcast on January 8 this year. But indigenes of Koton-Karfe in the Kogi Local Government Area described the governor’s action as a sacrilege.

The people lamented that out of the three monarchs sacked by the governor, only their own was instantly replaced by another person without following due process.

“We the representatives of all the ruling houses and the surviving pout of the four kingmakers of Igu, Koton-Karfe kingdom, Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State, wish to state categorically and most unequivocally our total rejection of the purported deposition of Alhaji Abdulrazaq Gambo Sani Isakoto as the Ohimege Igu, Koton-Karfe.

“He remains the Chairman, Lokoja/Kogi Local Government Area Traditional Council. We also reject the purported appointment of an Ohimege during a proclamation on television and which was viral in the social media on 8th January, 2024 and since thereafter.

“It is pertinent to state that out of the three royal fathers that were purportedly deposed and banished, it is only Alhaji Abdulrazak Gambo Sani Isakoto that was replaced immediately by that proclamation with the speed of light. This smacks of arbitrariness.

“What has happened on this vexed issue is an anathema and a real mockery of our centuries-long and revered kingship institution of the Ohimege Igu, Koton-Karfe and which if not urgently addressed, poses great and imminent danger to our well respected and highly acclaimed kingship institution and the peace and tranquillity of our very old kingdom,” part of their jointly signed communique made available to journalists stated.

They added that it was imperative to use the medium to intimate the Kogi State Government, its agents and the general public that the capricious proclamation was unacceptable and rejected in its entirety.

“It relates to our dear kingdom and the revered institution of the Ohimege Igu, Koton-Karfe. It should be put on record that desecration of our age long customs and traditions which cannot be allowed to stand.

“At this juncture, we wish to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the wilful, calculated and capricious aberration and desecration of our traditional kingship institution which the Kogi State government has wittingly embarked upon with the unjust purported removal and the hasty appointment of an Ohimege in order to serve the interest of a few political jobbers”

“We therefore certainly consider the abominable deposition of our loving and well respected Ohimege as an ugly political vendetta orchestrated by a few political Lilliputians with bloated images of their perceived personal self worth,” they added.

The community leaders therefore urged the state government to reverse its action immediately in the interest of peace in the area.

They said: “In the light of the foregoing, we the under-listed persons representing the eight ruling houses of Igu, Koton-Karfe kingdom seek the immediate reversal of this traditional farce and incongruity.

“This is to save our age-long customs and traditions from bastardisation, particularly of our highly revered and respected Ohimege Igu Koton-Karfe kingdom institution.

“We use this medium to call on all well-meaning Nigerians and the peace loving people of Kogi State as well as traditional and religious leaders to call the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to order.

“His current action on this important issue is a contraption, an ill wind that blows no one no good and a big stain on his government and administration.

“We equally call on the good people of Igu, Koton-Karfe kingdom to remain calm and prayerful for justice to prevail.” (THISDAY)

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