Query: Kogi rejects response of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland over ‘alien title’, asks him to resubmit

The Kogi government has rejected the response of Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, to a query requesting explanation over his absence during President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent visit to the state.

Buhari visited the state on December 29 to inaugurate some completed projects.

On January 7, the state government queried the monarch for his absence during Buhari’s visit to the state. 

In a query letter signed by Enimola Eniola, the state director of chieftaincy affairs, the state government said the traditional ruler’s unavailability to receive Buhari is a deliberate action capable of bringing Kogi state and Ebiraland to “grave disrepute”.

Replying to the query in a letter dated January 6, the traditional ruler said he received no official letter informing him of Buhari’s visit to the state.

The monarch said he was “kept in the dark from the reception arrangements” for the president, and he did not deliberately miss the event.

However, in another letter on Monday by Abdulsalam Deedat, Kogi commissioner for local government and chieftancy affairs, the government rejected the monarch’s response.

Giving the reason for the rejection, Deedat said the response was conveyed with a title “alien to recognised law”.

“I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No. ETC/CHI/35/VOL.I1/33 dated 6th January, 2023 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,” the letter reads.

“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 I 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 2nd June, 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.”

The government, however, ordered the king to resubmit a fresh response with the appropriate title by Wednesday.

“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to kindly re-submit your reply to the query with the appropriate title within 48 hours to enable further necessary action to be taken,” the letter reads.

“It is expected that Your Royal Majesty will respond accordingly, please.”