Toba Owojaiye reporting
Lokoja, Kogi State.
In a series of Twitter posts, prominent opposition legal counsel Jibrin S. Okutepa SAN expressed strong criticism towards the newly sworn-in governor of Kogi State, Usman Ahmed Ododo. The heated election, marked by a sharp tribal divide between the Ebira and Igala communities, saw outgoing Governor Yahaya Bello, also known as the “white lion,” securing victory for Ododo.
Truth Live News gathered that J S Okutepa SAN, in a letter to Governor Ododo, accused him of disrespecting the Igala people and their paramount ruler, the Ata Igala, during his inaugural address on January 27, 2024.
“In that address, you committed unpardonable blunders. You started your address by undermining the Igala people and our paramount ruler and the father of all Igalas, the Ata Igala and president of Kogi State Council of Chiefs,” Okutepa SAN conveyed in his letter.
Okutepa SAN condemned the governor’s protocol lapse, claiming deliberate disrespect towards the Ata Igala. “Your action on this first day and first assignment to do as governor clearly showed your intentions. It is clear to any discerning mind that you started your temporary occupation of the office of Governor of Kogi State with hatred for the Igala race.”
The legal counsel warned against further displays of disrespect, asserting the Igala people’s refusal to tolerate insults to their royal father. “Be warned that any further show of disrespect to our royal father, Ata Igala, will not be tolerated. That the Igala people have shown maturity and tolerated the adolescent government you just replaced should not give you a license to start on the same footing,” Okutepa SAN emphasized.
Accusing Ododo of inheriting animosity towards the Igala people from his predecessor, Yahaya Bello, Okutepa SAN urged the new governor not to test the willpower of the Igala people by continuing such disrespectful actions. “Truth be told, you seem to have inherited the hatred of Igala people from Yahaya Bello, who treated us with such disdain and audacity of arrogance.”
On social media, public opinion varies. Some express hope that Governor Ododo learns from his predecessor’s mistakes, emphasizing a changing political landscape. The reverence of the Ata Igala’s stool extends beyond Kogi State, reaching even into Benue, particularly among the Idoma people, who consider any insult to the stool as an affront to their collective heritage.
Critics lay blame on Edward Onoja and the Igala supporters who backed Bello’s administration, anticipating challenges for the Igala people under the new leadership. The sentiment suggests a cautious observation of Governor Ododo’s actions, as the people remain vigilant and expect better governance.
The controversy surrounding the inaugural address highlights deep-rooted tensions in Kogi State, emphasizing the need for the new governor to navigate these sensitivities carefully. “Accept my professional respect always,” was a befitting conclusion to show that Barr Okutepa’s remarks were not meant to demean the governor but restate clear boundaries.