Ane Igala Restoration Rejects Planned Coronation of King of Igala in Africa

Ane Igala Restoration (AIR) has vehemently rejected the planned coronation and installation of a King of Igala in Africa, slated to take place in Kano, Kano State, between January 25-27, 2025. According to AIR, the event, which is being organized by Dr. Sheikh Hassan Mukailu Abejukolo, is an affront to the Igala Nation and its traditional institution.

“We received the invitation with mixed feelings, and we are shocked that anyone would feign ignorance of the existence of the Igala Kingdom and its leadership under the Atta Igala,” AIR stated.

A statement signed by the National President of AIR, Dr Apostle Ocholi Ekpe Odekina and National Secretary, Salifu Oguche Usman Esq, (LL.M), emphasised that the Igala Nation has existed as a well-established kingdom with a sophisticated, entrenched, and structured traditional institution dating back to the 12th century.

The Ata Igala, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche_Akpa, is the supreme ruler of the Igala Nation and people worldwide, as well as their religious and political leader. AIR emphasized that the Atta Igala is the only source of traditional or quasi-traditional titles and stools in Igala land and over Igala people globally.

AIR views the planned coronation as an attempt to coerce or trick the Igala Nation into a kingdom they never bargained for. “We reject in totality the conception and expression of the idea of the establishment of the said stool of King of Igala in Africa,” AIR declared. “We call on the organizers to discard the idea, cancel the event, and tender an apology to the Igala Nation and people.”

AIR warned that proceeding with the coronation would be an invitation to anarchy, as the Igala Nation would not stand idly by while its traditional heritage is disrespected. The organization urged all Igala sons and daughters to continue to uphold the dignity and integrity of the Igala Nation.

The planned coronation has sparked widespread outrage among the Igala people, who view it as an attempt to undermine their traditional institution and heritage. AIR’s rejection of the event is seen as a bold step in defending the Igala Nation’s sovereignty and cultural identity.

BELOW IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT:

PRESS RELEASE.

AIR REJECTS THE PLANNED CORONATION AND INSTALLATION OF KING OF IGALA.

The attention of Ane Igala Restoration (AIR )has been drawn to a publication by one Dr, Sheikh Hassan Mukailu Abejukolo inviting Muslim Umma and the general public to an event titled the ‘coronation and installation as the King of Igala in Africa and Peace Ambassador in Africa’ which is scheduled to take place at the Palace of the King of Hausawa, HRH Dr Abdulkadir A.L Koguna in Kano, Kano State between the 25th _27th January, 2025.

Ane Igala Restoration (AIR) received the said invitation with mixed feelings,, AIR is shocked at the fact that any individual, group of individuals or traditional institution in Nigeria or elsewhere globally will feign ignorance of the existence of the famous Igala kingdom and it’s leadership under the Atta Igala, an institution that has existed over centuries and did established itself as an independent Nation _state before the advent of the colonial master and colonialism.

The publication was equally received with curiosity as to the source of the Kingship, the personality behind its creation, the purpose and purport of same and its relevance to the existence of the Igala Nation and people.

AIR wishes to educate Dr Sheikh Hassan Mukailu Abejukolo, the King of Hausawa in Africa, Dr Abdulkadir Koguna and the organizers of the event and the stool that the Igala Nation has existed as a well established kingdom with one of the most sophisticated, entrenched and structured traditional institution which is dated back to as early as the 12th century and that same is headed by the Atta Igala who is the supreme ruler of the Igala Nation and people worldwide as well as their religious and political leader.

AIR wishes to further educate the organizers of the said event and stool that the Atta and his retinue of assistants including the Onu Ife or Ojogba of Ife exercise absolute and comprehensive traditional and religious authority over their people and that the Igala Nation doesn’t admit any other competing traditional or trado-institutional leadership in Igala land and amongst Igala people as the Igala Nation and people are uniquely bound by their igalaness which encompasses their traditional and spiritual beings while reserving the private rights of individuals to worship God Almighty through the various faiths including Christianity and Islam which all reinforces the igalaness of her people, their original being and values.

AIR therefore wonders at the basis and source of the authority of the King of Hausawa in Africa or any other person, group of persons or institutions to establish, coronate and install a King of Igala in Africa for the Igala People and Nation.
AIR wishes to put it plain for the records that Atta Igala being the spiritual and traditional ruler and leader of the Igala Nation is the only source of any traditional or quasi traditional title and stool in Igala land and over Igala people globally and that this has been demonstrated over centuries with the Atta exercising dominion and authorities over all stools and titles held by all Igala blood and over Igala people wherever they might be.

AIR also wishes to emphasize the fact that we appreciate the right and liberty of persons of Igala origin to associate with persons of their choice, hold religious faith and advance in spiritual ranks and standing including receiving and holding religious titles and positions, such certainly can’t translate to appointing , coronating and installing an Igala King for a King implies the existence of a Kingdom and a people and in this case, the Igala kingdom and people is at great risk of being coerced or tricked into a kingdom they never bargained for.

AIR therefore on behalf of itself, the Igala Nation, people and Kingdom under the rulership and Supreme leadership of the Atta Igala, His Royal Majesty, Dr Alaji Mathew Opaluwa Oguche_Akpa and the Igala Area traditional council reject in totality the conception and expression of the idea of the establishment of the said stool of King of Igala in Africa.
AIR considers this as an afront, a denigration and open insult at the well respected and awe inspiring Igala Nation, the Atta historic stool and the entire Igala heritage.

AIR hereby call on the organizers of the event and those behind the conception of the stool to discard the idea without further delay, cancel the event and tender an open and well circulated apologies to the Igala Nation and people for this unprovoked and unwarranted attack against the Igala people and their traditional institution.

May we add that any attempt to proceed with the coronation and installation as planned is an open invitation to anarchy as the Igala Nation and people will not fold its arm and watch mischief makers bring her name, glory, fame and age-long traditional heritage to disrepute.

We use this opportunity to call on all Igala sons and daughters to continue to uphold the values of patience, forbearance and peace which are our hallmarks even in the face of this open denigration and provocation, may we hereby assure you all that AIR will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this provocative scheming doesn’t seem the light of the day.
May we also call on all relevant security agencies to rise to the occasion by ensuring that the planned dessecration of Igala heritage and glory is nipped at the bud so as to forestall any consequential breakdown of law and order.

Thank you and God bless
Igala Nation,
Atta Igala, HRM Dr Alaji Mathew Opaluwa
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed.
Dr, Apostle Ocholi Ekpe Odekina (Ph.D)
National President

Salifu Oguche Usman, Esq, (LL.M)
National Secretary