Alhaji Ahmad Talib El-Mudasir Babamba is the chief ambassador for the Ebira people in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In this interview, he paid glowing tributes to the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Abdulrahman Ibrahim (CON) who just clocked 92 years. BABA YUSUF was there.
His Royal Majesty, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land just clocked 92 years making him one of the oldest traditional rulers on the continent. How do you wish to celebrate him as his chief ambassador in the FCT?
First, I wish to congratulate him on his appointment as the president, Kogi State Traditional Council. On behalf of my people as the representative of His Royal Majesty in the FCT, I give glory to the Almighty Allah who has spared the life of our father, the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, to witness this day. May Allah continue to grant him good health, more wisdom as he continues to age in grace in the leadership of Ebira. Today, we can all say that his reign is a blessing to all of us, as we have never had it better than now.
What have the Ebira people achieved during his reign as Ohinoyi?
First, on the issue of Ajaokuta steel plant, I want to sincerely thank His Royal Majesty and his son, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, on their stands in the Ajaokuta steel plant matter. They have individually met with President Muhammadu Buhari on how to get the steel plant working in order to get our youths off the streets so that they are gainfully engaged to reduce crimes in the country. In a related development, some groups of Igala challenged us in court, claiming the ownership of Ajaokuta and some other parts of the state, and His Royal Majesty directed some lawyers to appeal the judgement, saying that no part of Ebira land would be ceded to anybody during his time, as several cases instituted against us in the past were decided in our favour. He vowed that this won’t be different. Also, in 2012, injustice was done to one of his subjects in the person of the former speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello when the Supreme Court ordered a fresh election in the state. In that judgment, the court ordered the speaker to be sworn-in in an acting capacity, but he was arm-twisted by handing over to Idris Wada outrightly. On that day, His Majesty told us that in his reign as the leader of the Ebira people, one of his subjects would be sworn in as the substantive governor. Many people had made similar vows in the past, but they didn’t live to witness the event. Alhamdulillah, His Royal Majesty said it, it came to pass and he witnessed it; what a special being! So, these and many other things have made his reign eventful. To the glory of Allah and not by his power he recorded these successes and many other good things in Ebira land. Again, in his domain, the first state-owned reference hospital and first state-owned University of Technology in the North-central are coming at the same time in Ebira land with the help of his son, the governor. So, he is a man of honour. In 2012 or so, when some soldiers were killed in Okene town, the military authorities had concluded plans to invade and de-establish the entire land like they did in Odi, Bayelsa state and Zaki Biam in Benue state. But His Royal Majesty ran to the then Commander-in-Chief, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, to prevail on the military to save his people from the calamity that would have befallen on us. So, if you have such a man as a ruler, his people should have every reason to rejoice all the time.
What is your advice to fellow Ebira at home and in the Diaspora?
Thank you very much. My advice is that Ebira is a kingdom, not chiefdom. We have only one father in the person of His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Abdulrahman Ado Ibrahim (CON), the Ohinoyi of Ebira land. As sons and daughters of the land, we must learn to respect his decision on every matter concerning the land. In other places in this country and beyond, as we have seen, people pay homage to their kings any time they travel home. Thank God that some of us are beginning to realise the importance of doing that to honour our king. In our zone, FCT, any time we have the opportunity to address our people, we make it a duty to remind our people of homage-paying. So, we pray to the Almighty Allah to bless, guide and guard our people wherever they are and may Allah continue to be with His Royal Majesty and his entire cabinet.
