The Kogi State Government is set to unveil a new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland to succeed Dr. Ado Ibrahim, who passed on at the age of 74 years on October 29, 2023, after a protracted illness.
“His Royal Highness, Alhaji Isa Musa-Achuja, the Ohi of Eganyi-led committee has finished its assignment by selecting seven qualified persons out of the 70 contestants screened,” Alhaji Yunusa Sule, Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, confirmed in Lokoja yesterday.
He gave the names of the lucky seven as former deputy governor, Dr. Philip Salawu; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Ataba Sani Omolori, Gen. Yusuf Abubakar Amuda, Mr. Momoh Shaibu, Prof. Ibrahim Onuwe Abdulmalik, Dr. Ahmad Tijani Anaje, and Mr. Ahmed Momoh Jimoh.
He said the governor was appreciative of the work of the kingmakers committee and commended them for a job well done.
“Our governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will within this week unveil a designate to assume the vacant stool of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Already, the governor has held a meeting with the qualified seven aspirants recommended by the Kingmakers committee and from whom one would be appointed to take the stool.
“The governor had during the meeting, urged the aspirants to display the spirit of good sportsmanship by supporting whoever is appointed by the government,” he said.
The 70 eligible contestants were from four of the five eligible districts in Ebiraland, comprising Okewe, Ohema, Erika, Aganiye and Adavi. However, Adavi was left out since the late Ohinoyi was from there.