Kogiflame
Etsu Lokoja, His Royal Highness, Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to recognize and grade the Etsu stool.
Address newsmen at a press conference in Lokoja, the monarch said Nupes are natives of Lokoja, not mere indigenes.
The Etsu insisted that they are the earliest inhabitants of Lokoja and are not replaceable, adding that they have a right to exist and to be included in the running of the affairs of their homeland.
He emphasized the need to grade the Etsu Lokoja stool to create balance and forestall any future intimidation, harassment, marginalization and attacks against the peace loving Nupe natives in the name of lack of government recognition.
He appealed to security agencies not to relent in their efforts to fish out the perpetrators and sponsors of the arson against the premises of the Palace of the Etsu Lokoja in which his car was burnt beyond redemption.
The Etsu Lokoja noted that the continuous harassment is not healthy for Lokoja, the state capital city.
He appealed to the government to halt further harassment and hold instigators responsible for any breakdown of law and order or destruction of lives or properties because of their inciteful utterances and activities against the native Nupe of Lokoja.
Responding to a recent press release by a group, Lokoja Indigenous People Union and its spokesperson Alh. Aliyu Lawal Jiya, as well as another group by the name of Lokoja Patriots targeting the Etsu Lokoja, and disclaiming the Etsu Lokoja’s royalty as a traditional ruler and a leader of the Nupe Natives of Lokoja, the monarch said by their actions, they are making clear their ignorance about Lokoja.
“Their action clearly shows where the attack on us came from. Sadly, their ignorance of the past does not invalidate the past and its contents.
“We wish to correct their impression that Lokoja started with the British or at the point when they joined the train called Lokoja.
“For the sake of clarity, Lokoja was founded before the end of the 1700 by Nyamkpa alias Cheluka, whom some called Eshida. He was the Warlord of Etsu Jimada who died in the supremacy warfare between him and Etsu Majiya II. With the demise of his Principal, Nyamkpa and his warriors could either be exterminated or turned slaves but rather than succumb to any of the two options, Nyamkpa decided to move his men and their families out of Gbara and finally arrived the mountain top, first called Pati Lukongi by the guidance of his Oracle bird called ‘Eluko’ or its short form ‘Luko’. The event of the mysterious disappearance of ‘Luko’ his Oracle whose latch could be seen but without ‘Eluko’. The observer’s exclamation – “Luko-a-dza” eventually led to the name Lukoja instead of the name Pati Lukongi.
“Etsu Nyamkpa, therefore, was not only the founder but also the first Etsu (King). He died around 1835 and was succeeded by his son, Etsu Akpara Nyamkpa II who died at the war between the British Expedition Forces and the Nupe in 1897. His son Kabo Nyamkpa III who he refused to go with them to war in order not to leave the community without a head took over reign as Etsu Lokoja. His reign was very weak because of the loss of virtually all the men, leaving him with just women and children at the mercy of the Colonial lords and their CMS agents. Kabo Nyamkpa III is the father of Maji and Maji is the father of HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV, the Etsu Lokoja.
“It is important to state here that the community called Lokoja was born right on the mountain top making it the original site of Lokoja and not down the mountain. Yet, although it was founded on top of the mountain, several of the people came down to settle because of hunting, fishing and farming and still maintain the common name Lokoja.
“In 1832 when Captain McGregor Laird sailed interland on the Niger River and arrived Lokoja to set up the British Consulate and the Trading Post, he met our people – the Nupe and not any other. When Dr. William Balfour Baikie arrived Lokoja, he met our people – Nupe and not any other. We are the natives. The aborigines. And have had our way of administering ourselves traditionally under our own leadership called ‘Etsu’ which usually is named after our community – Lokoja as is common to all independent Nupe Communities across the entire Nupe nation.
“The nativity of Lokoja is in deed Nupe but with a distinction. They are the Nupe who left Gbara as a block and arrived the mountain top. Some of these eventually cross the Niger River around the 1860s led by Aishimwo the son of Nyamkpa and brother to Akpara Nyamkpa. Other leaders including Eta Mayaki were part of that crossing of our who later were Bassa Nge until recently.
“However, like several other ethnic groups that moved into Lokoja as a result of the activities of the British, other Nupe from different parts of the Nupe nation also moved in. While some of these ethnic identities came in for business, some served as part of the Colonial Administration while others accompanied the deposed Emirs including our own revered Etsu Nupe, Mall. Abubakar.
“Today, these men and women have become indigenes of Lokoja and have contributing to the development of Lokoja in one way or another but they do not take the place of the Natives. The native Nupe of Lokoja are a distinct people. They are the earliest inhabitants and are not replaceable. We have a right to exist and to be included in the running of the affairs of our homeland.
“The claim by our attackers that they are the Nupe Indigenes/natives of Lokoja is not correct because no true Nupe should antagonize the Nupe natives of Lokoja but we understand their affinity. As Natives, we are not contending with anyone but seeking our own fair share of attention for the sake of our unborn generations of native Nupe of Lokoja.
“Since we wouldn’t submit ourselves to be appointed by Indigenes, to them, we are not recognized. However, we do not need their approval to be who we are. We are a people, distinct in every sense and we are saying no to any attempt to subjugate us under any other.
“Now the prerogative to have our Etsu today as we used to have is ours and not theirs. We didn’t just jump into the decision, we were clear about it and to create a clear distinction, we set up the Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union. We were deliberate about the word ‘Natives’ to distinguish between the earliest inhabitants and the others because of times like this.
“The claim that HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV is self appointed is false. A due process to nominate, appoint and Install our Etsu Lokoja was followed. We widely consulted among our native people for candidates. We identified those whose cultural and traditional mandate it is to be appointed Kingmakers and constituted them and upon the consensus outcome of the wide consultations and the resolve of the Kingmakers, HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV was nominated, appointed and Installed as the Etsu Lokoja amidst the traditional rites right on the birth place of Lokoja which is on Mount Pati on the 23rd day of January, 2024. A public reenactment of that Installation was held there on Mount Pati amidst Cultural celebration on the 27th day of July, 2024. Some of the video clips of it were on social media at that time.
“The events of the nomination, appointment and Installation is strictly our affair as Natives. It does not need the approval of any of the Indigenes neither are we under any obligation to invite them especially as they have shown that our awakening could jeopardize their stance, which we don’t know how,” he said.
The Etsu Lokoja said the fact remains that we are the earliest inhabitants.
He added that while they have no grudge against any group of the diversely composed Lokoja, they are saying that as host ethnic group, they also want to be included in the general equation of the governance of Lokoja like the other ethnic groups.
“We want to be identified in our true picture as we have always been.
“That there were manipulations to erase our identity especially with the incoming of our fellow Nupe brothers and sisters from other parts of the Nupe nation does not mean we have gone into extinction.
“The mastermind against us has seen our people spread all over the place from home because of the exclusion but today, we have said ‘enough is enough’ and they are crying ‘Fake’.
“It is important to state here also that this is not the first time the Natives have agitated for recognition and inclusion in the affairs of Lokoja. This agitation created the turmoil that eventually tucked Lokoja under the supervision of the Ebira Division during the era of the indirect rule policy of the Colonial administrators, leading to the appointment of several Caretakers over Lokoja between 1921 and 1955 when Alh. Yahaya Mohammadu was appointed. It was a similar agitation that led to the Court case between Mohammed Bello and the late Maigari of Lokoja. This is therefore a reoccurring decimal that needs to be addressed in order to give the Natives the assurance of Government fairness and equitable attention to all.”
Regarding the allegation that HRH Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa IV claimed to be the custodian of the European Cemetery or the tomb sites of the deposed Emirs, the Etsu Lokoja said it is false because he mentioned to the very Senator Shehu Sani, during his recent visit, that if he had been aware of the intention to visit such sites earlier, he would have consulted the authorities for access. However, since the custodian of the tombs of the deposed Emirs could be reached, he guided the Senator to reach the custodians since he desired to see the tombs.
“Interestingly, you cannot take away from the natives the true historical relics, location and information of Lokoja,” he added.
