The Kogi State Government has rejected the response of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland,Ado Ibrahim to the letter of query it issued the traditional ruler on the 5th of January, 2023 over alleged absence at the designated place to receive President Muhammadu Buhari.
Recall that President Muhammad Buhari was on December 29 visited the state on to inaugurate some projects executed by the administration of Governor Yahya Bello.
On January 7, the state government queried the monarch for his absence during Buhari’s visit to the state.
In a query letter signed by Enimola Eniola, the state director of chieftaincy affairs, the state government said the traditional ruler’s unavailability to receive Buhari is a deliberate action capable of bringing Kogi state and Ebiraland to “grave disrepute”
Responding to the query in a letter dated January 6, the traditional ruler said he received no official letter informing him of Buhari’s visit to the state.
The monarch said he was “kept in the dark from the reception arrangements” for the president, and he did not deliberately miss the event.
However,in another letter dated January 16th and signed by the Commissioner for local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,Barr. Salami Momodu Deedat rejected the response of the monarch.
According to the letter cited by NPO Correspondent,the commissioner noted that the reason for the rejection,was that the response was conveyed with a title “alien to recognised law”.
He said the monarch used the title “Atta Ebira and not Ohinoyi of Ebiraland” in response to the letter of query, stressing that the title of Atta Ebira is alien to law and not recognized by Government.
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“Therefore any correspondence with that title is unacceptable for official purpose”.
The letter reads: “I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No. ETC/CHI/35/VOL.II/33 dated 6th January, 2023 in respect of the above subject matter and to inform you that the said letter under reference which ought to be your response to a letter of query was not conveyed with the appropriate title of your stool as recognized by the Kogi State Chieftaincy law 2006 and your letter of appointment.
“Your personal decision to use the title of Atta Ebira and not Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in your official communication is at variance with sections 19a, 27(2b), 33 and schedules II and V of Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition and Establishment of Traditional Councils in Kogi State) Law, 2006 and your letter of appointment issued to you with Ref. No. GHLK/KGS/22 dated 2nd June, 1997.
“The title of Atta Ebira is alien to law and not recognized by Government. Therefore any correspondence with that title is unacceptable for official purpose.”
The government, however, ordered the king to resubmit a fresh response with the appropriate title within 48hours
“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to kindly re-submit your reply to the query with the appropriate title within 48hours to enable further necessary action to be taken”.
“It is expected that Your Royal Majesty will respond accordingly, please,”the letter added