By Abdulrahman A.A
Despite overwhelming historical, legal, and judicial evidence affirming Ajaokuta’s deep-rooted Igala heritage, elected councilors of Ajaokuta Local Government have ignorantly dismissed the region’s rightful affiliation with the proposed Okura State. Their decision, announced during a legislative session on Thursday, flies in the face of historical treaties, colonial records, and a recent court judgment reaffirming Ajaokuta as part of Igala land.
Ignoring History: The 1841 Treaty and Igala Authority Over Ajaokuta
It is baffling that these councilors, in their pursuit of sentimental rhetoric, have completely ignored a well-documented historical agreement of 1841, wherein the Attah Igala, as the sovereign ruler, leased Ajaokuta, Lokoja, and Koton Karfe to the British colonial government. This agreement, signed with British officials, clearly established Igala ownership and governance over these regions long before the creation of modern administrative boundaries.
The fact remains that Ajaokuta was an integral part of Igala land before colonial interventions. Even during the early administrative restructuring that led to the creation of Northern Nigeria, British colonial authorities recognized the Attah Igala as the custodian of Ajaokuta, reinforcing its Igala heritage.
2020 Court Judgment: The Legal Confirmation of Igala Ownership
Beyond historical treaties, the Federal High Court in Lokoja, in a landmark ruling delivered on June 2, 2020, reaffirmed that Ajaokuta, Lokoja, and Koton Karfe rightfully belong to the Igala Kingdom. The court’s decision was based on historical documents, legal precedents, and evidence that indisputably traced the origins of these regions to Igala rule.
The court ruling was a direct recognition of the Attah Igala’s historical and ancestral ownership, thereby rendering the arguments of these so-called councilors baseless, uninformed, and legally irrelevant.
Ajaokuta’s Historical Affiliation with Igala Kingdom
Contrary to the claims of the Ajaokuta councilors, the town has never been an “Ebira ancestral home.” Before colonial restructuring, Ajaokuta was part of the larger Igala Kingdom, governed by the Attah Igala. The natural boundaries and historical settlements in the region have always tilted towards Igala culture, leadership, and administration.
Even in the pre-colonial era, Ajaokuta served as a strategic Igala territory, with settlements and leadership structures tied to the Attah’s influence. The migration of Ebira-speaking people into Ajaokuta was a later development, but this does not erase the pre-existing Igala ownership and control over the land.
Political Sentiment Over Facts: The Councilors’ Misguided Opposition
Rather than acknowledging documented historical truths and judicial rulings, these councilors have chosen to peddle misinformation and tribal sentiment to distort Ajaokuta’s historical identity. Their rejection of affiliation with Okura State is not based on law, history, or facts but on deliberate ignorance and political posturing.
By claiming that Ajaokuta has always belonged to Kogi Central and that its inclusion in Okura State would “alter the demographic equilibrium,” these councilors fail to understand that the re-alignment of Ajaokuta with its rightful owners—the Igala people—is an act of justice, not division.
Time to Respect History and Law
The call for Ajaokuta to remain in Kogi Central, despite its undeniable Igala heritage, is nothing but a distortion of history. The 1841 treaty, colonial records, and the 2020 court judgment all point to one irrefutable fact: Ajaokuta belongs to the Igala Kingdom.
While these councilors may continue to churn out misinformation, history cannot be rewritten to suit tribal politics. The Federal and State Governments must uphold the 2020 court ruling and ensure that the rightful ownership of Ajaokuta, Lokoja, and Koton Karfe is restored to the Igala people.
The truth is clear: Ajaokuta is Igala land, and no amount of political propaganda can change that.