A letter sent to the royal father, signed by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Salami Momodu, and sighted by our correspondent, stated that the response was rejected for not complying with the appropriate title of his stool as recognised by the Kogi State Chieftaincy law 2006, and his letter of appointment.
The PUNCH reports the monarch was not available to welcome Buhari last December when he visited the state to unveil some projects, a decision which, in response to the query, was blamed on a bomb blast close to the palace where four people were reportedly dead.
The letter stated that the decision of the monarch to use the title of Atta Ebira and not Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in official communication was at variance with sections 19a, 27(2b), 33 and schedules II and V of Kogi State Chiefs (Appointment, Deposition and Establishment of Traditional Councils in Kogi State) Law, 2006 and “your letter of appointment issued to you with Ref. No. GHLK/KGS/22 dated 2nd June 1997.”
The letter read, “I wish to refer to your letter dated January 6, 2023, in respect of the above subject matter and to inform you that the said letter under reference which ought to be your response to a query was not conveyed with the appropriate title of your stool as recognised by the Kogi State Chieftaincy law 2006 and your letter of appointment.
“Your personal decision to use the title of Atta Ebira is alien to the law and not recognised by the government. Therefore, any correspondence with that title is unacceptable for official purposes.
“In view of the above, you are hereby requested to kindly re-submit your reply to the query with the appropriate title within 48 hours to enable further necessary action to be taken. It is expected that Your Royal Majesty will respond accordingly, please.”
See the letter below:
