General News
Royal Bead of Oka Ayegba: Igala Traditional Council Implore Disgruntled Members to Exercise Little More Patience
- Says they will Expedite Actions to see that they are properly decorated with Oka Ayegba very soon
By Abdulrahman Obaje
The Igala Traditional Council, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja implore disgruntled members that are yet to be adorned with Oka Ayegba at the Atah Igala Palace, Idah to exercise little more patient, as the council will expedite actions to see that the necessary things are done for them to be properly adorn by His Royal Majesty, Atah Igala; in no distance time.
This is contained in a statement by the Ogah Atah, Onuh Igala, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State and Chairman, Igala Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Yunusa Ali during an emergency meeting convened in the FCT, Saturday, June 21st, 2025.
HRH Ali reiterates the commitment of Igala Traditional Council to the unity of the Igala Nation saying that the matter should not bring any form of division and disunity among us.
He said; “What I am saying is that, if you are a chief, you are supposed to be accorded that respect of being a chief. And what is that respect; if an igala chief is dressed up and he is not complete in his dressing, then it is not a good thing.”
“They are supposed to be properly adorned with the royal bead of Ayegba (Oka Ayegba) at Gaba-idu’s palace. We understand the grievance of those that are disgruntled, and we are rubbing mind with them to see how we can foster a solution to the matter”
“We are going to visit our Royal Father Gaba-idu soon, so as to see how we are going to solve the matter. We know that he is the father of all of us and we are rest assured that he will grant our desire. ”
“So, therefore, I implore our disgruntled members that are not happy about the fact that they have not being adorned at the seat of the Igala Kingdom Idah by the Atah Igala, Gaba idu with Oka Ayegba, to exercise little more patient as we will expedite action towards it.”
“We will ensure that we go to Gaba-idu to make the necessary arrangement for their coronation and proper adornment with Oka Ayegba.”, Ogah Atah Yunusa continued.
His Royal Highness, Ogah Atah, Onuh Igala, Karu-Jikwoyi, Abuja; Alhaji AbdulSalam Tijani Musa also reiterates the commitment of the Traditional Council to the unity and progress of the Igala Nation.
HRH AbdulSalam said; “One of the burning issue we discussed here today was concerning the complaints of some of our royal chiefs that do not have the Royal Bead of Ayegba Omidoko, we talked extensively on the matter and what we resolved is that they are entitled to also have the bead, they are ordained by God, and once His Royal Majesty, Atah Igala ascent to it, they should be adorned with the bead at Idah.”
Ogah Atah, Onuh Igala, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State and Chairman, Igala Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Yunusa Ali, The Onu of Igala in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief James Alabi Okai and His Royal Highness, Ogah Atah, Onuh Igala, Karu-Jikwoyi, Abuja; Alhaji AbdulSalam Tijani Musa
“And we also concluded that nobody should go directly to Idah for the coronation hence forth since we have the Ambassador (referring to the Onu Igala, Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abuja) that represent the Atah Igala here”.
“He will be the one that would facilitate and make the necessary arrangement; including seeking the necessary permission from Gaba Idu for their proper coronation and adornment with Oka Ayegba at Idah”
Meanwhile, Onu Gbesa, His Royal Highness’s Abdulkarim Ahmodu attributed part of the matter to lack of unity among the Igalas. He said, “If there is no unity, it would be hard to record meaningful progress in anything.”
“This is the major problem we are facing as a people but with God and the current Atah of Igala, His Royal Majesty, the unity must come, the unity must be there.”
“And it is because of that unity that we convene this emergency meeting of today, and I want to assure you that the matter has been laid to rest.”
“And that thing that happened then was as a result of our lack of unity.”
“So, from our discussion today, we are even supposed to give His Royal Majesty a break.”
“Very soon, our leaders will go and meet His Royal Majesty at Idah and feed us back with whatever outcome to come with.”
“And we should also make sure that anybody that is a chief in the FCT, is also a member of the cabinet of Atah Igala so that they can be the chief security of their domain as they will be reporting back to the palace of Gaba-idu.”, he concluded.
Igala Traditional Council members during and Emergency Council Meeting on June 21, 2025
The emergency meeting which was convened as a result of complaints brought to the fore by some disgruntled members that have made attempt to secure coronation and adornment with Oka ayegba, saw prominent members of the council in attendance including The Onu of Igala in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief James Alabi Okai.
The disgruntled members while laying their grievance had said that they had even come under insults from their fellow chiefs in council as a result of not wearing Oka Ayegba as part of their dressing.
The council thereby warned those chiefs that are in the business of insulting fellow chiefs that are not yet wearing Oka Ayegba to henceforth desist from such act, as it is detrimental to the unity and relationship among the chiefs.
Adorning an Igala chief with Oka ayegba by Atah Igala is a very significant occasion to the chief as it shows authority, blessings and reverent.
