How Burial Of Ata Igala Attracted Indigenous Igala Worldwide »

By Abdul Aji and Ayegba Abdullahi.

Early on Saturday, October 31, 2020, thousands of visitors flooded the palace of Ata Igala at Idah to witness the “Ajibo Idakwo”, a wrap of white calico, (Okpe), lying in state.

The “Ajibo Idakwo” was carried from Ata’s private residence and taken to the council hall for lying in state. The replica dead body laid at the center of the hall while all beaded chiefs across Igala land came to pay tribute and presentation of their Okpe.

By “Eji enyi”, the person paying tribute will come on his knees, close to the dead body replica, announce his presence then present a calico (Okpe), which will be spread over the dead body replica. As at mid-day, the Okpe on the body replica had grown so thick.

According to Ayegba Abdullahi, who was appointed General Ambassador in charge of United Igala Kingdom (of all indigenous Igala people all over the world) by the late Ata Igala, the Eji Enyi of Late Idakwo Ameh Oboni II witnessed an unprecedented participation in the history of Igala tribe.

*President of the United Igala Kingdom, and the General Igala Ambassador of Attah Igala, Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Aduojoh*

Addressing media men at Idah, Ayegba said all Igala indigenous people from all over Nigeria and beyond came to present their white calico.

In his comment, the Odekina Ata Igala, His Royal Highness, Chief Ekele Musa Atodo Atabo Amaga, said that the prophecy of Ata, Ameh Oboni I, that when his son becomes the Ata Igala, all Igala People irrespective of their locations across the world will be reunited as one had been fulfilled.

The chief who was summoned with the responsibility of coordinating the burying of the late Ata, added that it was never known before the time of Ata, Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, that indigenous Igala people are in Onitsha or Rivers state or Delta or outside Nigeria like India, Kenya, Brazil, let alone participating in the burial of Ata Igala in Idah, headquarters of Igala people.

During Eji-enyi (calico presentation), the United Igala Kingdom which is the umbrella body of all indigenous Igala people and sister tribes in FCT and twenty nine states of Nigeria and beyond provided their own Okpe (calico) as a group while some communities presented their individual Okpe for the burial of Ata.

Indeed, Idah witnessed a lot of visitors as the burial of the Ata lasted. The Obi of Onya; Obi Sunday Akazue provided the Okpe for and on behalf of Illah Igala (Azanoma group) of Delta state; Chief Paul Opili (Onu Ebu) for and on behalf of Ebu people of Delta State; Akor Obiechina Emmanuel (Akor of Aika Ezeolu) for and on behalf of Aika Ezeolu kingdom of Delta State; Akor (Dr.) Osita Onwuka 1 (Akor of Oko Kingdom) for and on behalf of Oko Kingdom of Delta state; Obi (Dr.) Benibe Ugboko for and on behalf of Asagba of Asaba and Asaba Igala people of Delta state.

Mr. Clement Egwuje for and on behalf of Ifeku Island Igala of Edo state; Prince Peter Ogagbor for and on behalf of Ilushi Igala of Edo state; Chief Joseph Ikwuje (Ada-Ewa of Ai’Inamu) for and on behalf of Ai’Inamu clan of Iyiru Orokam Benue state; Chief Christopher Ajodo for and on behalf of Ogurugu people of Enugu state.

Mr. Ramamoorthy Kutumpan for and on behalf of Ata people of Pandya Kingdom; Tamil Nadu of India; Chief Areh Ikechukwu (Gbosa-obi of Onitsha) for and on behalf of Onitsha Igala people of Anambra state; Prince Chibueze Agbo for and on behalf of Izhia people of Ebonyi state; Mr Odufele Jeremiah for and on behalf of Igbedor people of Anambra state; Mr. Stephen Anyebe for and on behalf of Olachagbaha Clan, Otukpa, Benue state.

The Odekina Ata thanked the president of the United Igala Kingdom, and the General Igala Ambassador of Attah Igala, Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Aduojoh for the coordination and the Igala reconnection assignment, asked him to continue the work already handed to him by Ata Idakwo Ameh Oboni II. The event had thousands of Igala in attendance.

According to Ayegba Abdullahi, United Igala Kingdom comprises all indigenous Igala communities, towns and Kingdoms across Nigeria and beyond. They include indigenous Igala people across 27 states in Nigeria and Abuja, FCT as well as other sister tribes across Nigeria especially the “Agba”, “Awa”, and “Nago” greetings tribes in addition to the tribes with Egwu-afia/Acha masquerades in Nigeria, and some Nago, Aku, and Lukumi people in Brazil, Sierra Leone, Cuba, Gambia, UK and US.

These locations were discovered by Amb Ayegba Abdullahi Aduojoh after his about three years research work titled “Discover and Reconnect All Indigenous Igala people Across Nigeria and Beyond Project”. Though still searching, the work was completed in September, 2019.

The states in Nigeria and some of the communities in which indigenous Igala people are located are, Kogi state: Kogi east, Ajaokuta (Ajaokuta), Adogo, Koton Karfe and Lokoja

Nasarawa state: Umaisha, Doma and Toto LGAs. Benue state: Otukpo, Otukpa, Agila, Ajomachi, Alifati, etc. Niger state: Bida. Abuja (Federal capital territory): Abaji, Karshi, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Zuba. Abia state: Onu-Aku, Umuogu, Amaogu, Umuogwu towns. Anambra state: Anambra west, Aguata, Onitsha (Ogbodu and Obigboru), Ogbaru, Onu-Aku, Ofemili, Oko (home town of Late Dr Alex Ekwueme, the first elected VP of Nigeria), Oyi, Nteje (Utu-Ejeh), Amogu, Aguogu, etc.

Enugu state: Ubolo-Afor, Nsukka, Iggah, Abbi, Ibagwas, Enugu Ezike, Ogurugu, Unadu, Obukpa, Nkalagu-Obukpa, Ukpologwu, Abakpa Nike, UmuIdah, etc. Ebonyi state: Nkalaha, Ikwo, Ezza, Izzi, Izhiamgbo (hometown of Senator Sam Egwu, the first civilian governor of the state and the former minister of education of the federal republic of Nigeria), Okposi, Afikpo, Ika, Abakiliki, NgboEjeogu, etc.

Imo state: Atta community, Ihiajara, UmuOgala, Amatta, Oguta, Umu-onu, Ehime Mbano. Bayelsa state: Nembe, Ogu, Agada, Agudama. Cross river: Yala, Isobo, Agbo. Delta state: Umunede, Akumaji, UmuAtta, Uteje, Ogbe, Ebu, Aika Ezeolu, Beneku, Obiaruku, Okpanam, Okpai, Akoku, Umuebu, Amai, Ugili Amai, Illah, Amanyi Ododo, Umukwata, Oko (hometown of Late Stephen Keshi, former coach Nigeria supper eagles, and Engr Maduka V., first DG, NTA), Abbi, Aboh, Ossissa, Asaba, Obi Anigala, Owa-Abbi, Onu-Aboh, Ugbodu, Umuogu, Onu-obuko, Ogute, Ukala, Ubulubu, Ugbodu, Ogume

Edo state: Illushi, Anegbete, Agenebode, Ifeku, Inyele (Iňele), Ekpeli, Ikpoha, Igara Jaye (Igala janwu), Ibilo. Ekiti state: Ayede Ekiti, Ayegbaju and Ise. Lagos state: Isale Eko. Osun state: Igila ancient town. Rivers state: Ndoni, Nkpolu, Nkoro, Omoku. Taraba state: Wukari. Kaduna state: Kakuri, Kaduna south LGA. Oyo state: Ibadan town, Ketu, Iyaji. Kebbi: Attagara. Ondo: Ilu-Aboh, Ogbese, Owo. Borno: Askira-Uba, Attagara in Gwoza. Ogun: Agila and Yelwa. Yobe state: Yobe. Akwa Ibom state: Nsit Atta-Ibede. Kwara state: Lafiagi, Pategi, Lapai, Gara and still counting.

The installation of Idakwo Michael Ameh-Oboni as the Attah-Igala in 2013 naturally made many to recall his father who reigned as Ata Igala between 1946 and 1956.

At his installation in Idah, the excited townspeople referred to a statement uttered by the Ata’s late father that Igala land would not witness unity and tangible development until his son of sits on the throne as Ata Igala. Today there is formed the United Igala Kingdom.