The AjuAmeachor Ruling House has preferred candidate of a former officer of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prince Samuel Opaluwa to occupy the stool of Attah Igala
The Stakeholders of AjuAmeachor which is due to produce the next Attah Igala in accordance with the Kogi State Chieftaincy law and the Igala Native Custom on Thursday met in Idah and announced that it has unanimously chosen Prince Samuel Opaluwa as the family’s candidate for the exalted throne.
The meeting which was convened by the Head of the AjuAmeachor Ruling House, Prince Jacob Yahaya Etu, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, as required by the Kogi State Chieftaincy law, screened, interviewed and considered three main candidates who had indicated interest in the stool. They are Princes Samuel Opaluwa, Matthew Alhaji Opaluwa, a Director with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ocholi Opaluwa a high ranking Customs Officer.
Etu addressing the stakeholders of the Clan on Thursday said the family had unanimously agreed that Samuel Opaluwa being the eldest among the sons of Opaluwa Oguche,
He said the family had so far consciously acted in full compliance with Kogi State of Nigeria, Igala Area Traditional Council(Modification of Native Law and Custom) Order 2015 and traditional precedence which gives the exclusive right to nominate an Attah to the Ruling Family that is due to produce the Attah.
The Kogi State Chieftaincy Law and the Igala Tradition envisages that the contest for the the Attah stool be between candidates from the ruling whose turn it is to present a Candidate.
The ruling house is by law and tradition only entitled to nominate a single candidate who shall be presented to the other three Ruling Houses. They are AjuAku, AjuAmaecho, AjuAkogu and AjuOcholi.
This weekend it is expected that the elders of AjuAmeachor will introduce their chosen candidate to the other ruling houses which shall in turn present the candidate to,the college of Kingmakers called the Igalamela headed by a First Class monarch called the Etemahi.
The Igalamela is obligated by law to endorse the choice of the due ruling house as submitted by all the four ruling houses and present him to the Achadu Oko Attah, the traditional Prime Minister of the Kingdom who shall submit his name to the governor of the state and also commence the rites of coronation.
