IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA.
The Attah Igala and President, Kogi State Council of Chiefs, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa, has directed that the traditional titles of the Igala Kingdom should not be conferred on people with questionable characters.
The paramount ruler warned traditional title holders of the kingdom to desist forthwith from giving the title of the land to people who do not merit such honors.
He said honoring people with questionable characters amounts to desecrating the ancestral norms and laws of Igalaland.
The Attah Igala gave the caution while speaking on Sunday at a meeting with all the Igala title holders (Onu Igala) from thirty-six states, including the federal capital Territory, Abuja in the country.
“The time has come to uphold, decency, truthfulness, and morality associated with Igala people in act of our doing things in the kingdom, for the goodness of the people, state and country at large”. The Attah Igala maintained.
Chief Opaluwa advised all the title holders of the Igala nation to strike the cord of unity within themselves and Igala-speaking people in their domain and their neighborhoods for a peaceful country.
Attah Igala who relive the love and bravery of the Queens of the kingdom which led to the victory over the invading enemies urged the Igala of today to imbibe that virtue and secure the land with their capacity from any invading forces of disunity in any guise.
While he emphasized the importance of unity as a great tool of development, His Royal Majesty, cautioned those selling ancestral or family to stop as such is capable of creating the crisis, hardships, and disaffection within the family set up in the nearest future.
“If your ancestral parents had put the land on sale before you were born, you would not have anything to inherit as children.
Think of what your grandchildren would stand to inherit tomorrow if you sell the family land today“, he said.
He, therefore, warned some monarchs who are into such practices to retrace their steps in the interest of their unborn grandchildren and to avoid the curses of their ancestors.
The event which was observed with traditional fanfares saw the beading of about sixteen Onu Igala for some states in the country.
Earlier, the chairman of Onuh Igala in the country, His Royal Highness Joseph Idaikwo told His Royal Majesty that they will strive to uphold the ethics associated with Igala ethnic nationality, with their host communities to enhance the good name of the stool.
While he wished HRM a peaceful reign, he thanked him for his Royal advice and blessings, promising to enthrone and express it in all dealings, both in their character and with other ethnic tribes in their domains for peaceful coexistence.
