By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
A community leader and Chairman, Nobamna of Emi-Woro in Kogi State, Prince Nda Abu, has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to initiate the process for official recognition of the Etsu-Lokoja traditional stool in the interest of fairness and justice.
Prince Nda Abu made the appeal during a solidarity visit to Etsu Lokoja, HRH Emmanuel Dauda Shelika (Nyamkpa IV), reaffirming the long-standing quest for the state government to accord the stool official recognition.
He told the Bassa-Nge monarch that the visit was to honour the reverence attached to the stool and commend him for making the Bassa-Nge people proud. Prince Nda Abu recalled that the Bassa-Nge migrated from Gbara, the ancestral home of the Nupes, to Lokoja and across the River Niger, stressing that historical evidence shows they were the earliest settlers of Lokoja.
He lauded the Etsu-Lokoja’s efforts to foster a sense of belonging and collective identity for the Bassa-Nge people and urged the state government to act swiftly in granting the stool official status.
Responding, HRH Shelika said the demand for recognition was about acknowledging the original settlers of the land. He emphasised that the quest was legitimate, not in conflict with any tribe or existing chieftaincy in the state, and expressed optimism that the government would soon recognise the stool to set history straight and accord it due honour.