Igala Kingdom judgement: Kogi Coalition of elders calls for rotation of Chairmanship of traditional rulers

In a seemingly backlash occasioned by the Federal High Court judgement in Lokoja, on Tuesday 2nd June, 2020 identifying Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Koto Karfe as part of Igala Kingdom, a coalition of elders in the affected areas have called for rotation of Chairmanship of the State Council of traditional rulers.

They said on Sunday in a meeting in Lokoja that they would approach the Kogi State House of Assembly any moment for a review of laws that would shift Chairmanship of the Council of traditional rulers from Idah, the traditional headquarters of Igala Kingdom.

At a joint press conference by the elders in Lokoja, in response to the recent Federal High court’s judgement, recognising “Koton/Karfe, Lokoja and Ajaokuta local government areas as part of Igala Kingdom, the representative of Ohimege, Igu Koton/Karfe, Dr. Abdullahi Bako, said both the Igala from Kogi East, Ebira from Kogi Central and Lokoja/Koton Karfe from Kogi West, are from the same ancestral home.

Ohimege said, the Chairmanship of the Traditional Council must not be perpetual in one area (Igala land).

“The Chairmanship of the state’s Traditional Council has always been domiciled in Idah since the creation of Kogi State.”

They also rejected the outcome of the Federal High Court judgement on the case.

CAPITAL POST reports that lawmakers from the affected areas led by a member representing Lokoja/Koto Karfe Federal Constituency, Hon. Ibrahim Sha’aba rejected the outcome of the judgment, saying that it amount to modern day slavery.