Bello preaches tolerance as Ohinoyi gets staff of office.

Bello preaches tolerance as Ohinoyi gets staff of office.

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, formally presented the staff of office and an official car to the new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Anaje, who was installed on January 8, 2024.

Bello, at the ceremony held at the Ohinoyi’s palace in Okene, urged the new Ohinoyi to be a traditional ruler for all Ebira, irrespective of clan and religion.

The governor also promised his continued support for the monarch, while thanking the other contenders to the throne for accepting the choice of Anaje.

“I want to seize this opportunity to commend those who contested with the new Ohinoyi for displaying a good spirit of sportsmanship. I also call on all Ebiras to sheathe their swords to boost the attainment of the desired development in Ebiraland,” Bello added.

Responding, the Ohinoyi pledged to embrace all Ebira people irrespective of the clan, religion and other differences.

He called for the establishment of the North Central Development Commission to address the question of marginalisation of the region of the country.

He also called for the establishment of the state Ministry of Religious Affairs to enhance collaboration among adherents of various religions in the state.

The governor had on January 8 announced the appointment of Anaje as the new Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.

It was reported that no fewer than 75 persons, including a female professor, Angela Okatahi, the first female professor in Egbiraland, had applied for the vacant stool of the Paramount ruler of Egbiraland.

The 75 aspirants were later pruned down to seven.

 They were a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Dr. Philip Salawu; a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Ataba Omolori; and a retired military general, Yusuf Amuda.

Others are Momoh Shaibu, Prof. Ibrahim Onuwe Abdulmalik, Dr. Ahmad Tijani Anaje and Mr. Ahmed Momohjimoh.

The Ohinoyi stool became vacant in October last year following the demise of 94-year-old Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Ibrahim, was the second Ohinoyi or the fourth independent traditional ruler of Ebiraland.