By: Sam OGENYI
12th September, 2013 marked an indelible
historical event in the life of Ette community in Olamaboro Local Government
Area of Kogi State in which the staff of office was presented to twenty-nine
traditional rulers by his Excellency, Captain Idris Wada, the Executive
Governor of Kogi State. Among them was Chief, Dr. Okpani Aaron Ako who was
installed as ‘Onuoda V’ of Ette in ‘Adogo Palace’. Our correspondent who
monitored the event in Lokoja said the coronation which held in the Township
Stadium witnessed a large turnout of dignitaries and people from all walks of
life.
In a Grand Reception held in his honour by the
community in Ette on 13th September, 2013, Chief Aaron Ako stressed euphorically
that “the price of freedom is freedom, but freedom is not free when freedom has
a price to be paid for”. He emphasized that “just like colonialism and human
rights which have many price tags: political freedom, social freedom,
psychological freedom, emotional freedom and freedom of vicious circle of
poverty; the greatest of all is the freedom to be free”.
The Chief also purred encomiums on the persons of
late pioneer freedom fighters in the struggle for Ette freedom and justice who
had died believing what they believed such as His Royal Highness Ameh Oboni,
Ata Idah the first, HRH Dr. Aliyu Obaje, World War II Veteran Pa Edward Adejo,
Sylvester Onogwu, and Barr Festus Ogwuche who introduced legal angle to the struggle.
He also commended the roles played by others in the actualization of the Ette
dream such as Mr. R. U. Audu, Late Senator Andrew Abogede, Hon. Abubakar Abutu,
Hon. Atanu, Dr. Steve Achema, and Barr Ikani who propelled Ette case to the
Supreme Court. He reiterated that there were numerous other individuals who had
contributed their immeasurable quota to the to the struggle get back to her
roots.
The paramout ruler dedicated his staff of office to
Almighty God, the youths and good people of Ette, traditional council chairman,
HRH Alhaji Ademu (Agagu), HRH Micheal Salifu, Ochogwu of Ogugu (Dooga), Hon.
Yimusa Olofu, HRH James Ako, the
Aidokanya Odari (Toodo) of Emonoja, Hon. Farouk Adejo, the Executive Chairman of
Olamaboro Local Government Area, Hon. Farouk Adejo Audu, and the “Major” of
Ette, Hon. Audu Sule (Awuse).
In his valedictory speech, the Olamaboro Local
Government Council Chairman represented by his Vice, Hon. Sunday Agala said
that milestone and climax in the historical quest and struggle for Ette freedom
had been achieved and the people had been re-united with their knith and kin in
Kogi State. DayBreak Newspaper gathered that the struggle for the reunification
of Ette people, from former Anambra now Enugu State, with whom they claimed
they had no cultural ties, with their kith and kin in former Benue and now Kogi
State, dates back to four decades and took several dimensions including self
denial, open confrontation, military incarceration, legal battle (litigation)
and appeal to the National Boundary Commission before this historic coronation.
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