Tukura Matthew
His Royal Highness, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha Chiefdom and President Toto Local Government Traditional Council, Nasarawa State, a seasoned administrator, is 80 years today.
Born as a prince on January 4, 1944, he is the great-great grandson of a legend, Ohimegye Negedu, the founder of Opanda dynasty. He is the 28th on the throne and has spent 29 years on it as the longest serving Ohimegye in the history of the Chiefdom. He was appointed Ohimegye on June 21, 1995, with the status of a second class chief and presented staff of office by Col. Mohammed Mana.
Ohimegye Abdullahi is soft a spoken person, calm; he talks less and gives inconsequential attention to attending ceremonies.That notwithstanding friends, relations and colleagues will put on the proverbial dancing/royal shoes and join him celebrate the day.
Worthy of celebration with grateful hearts is God given Ohimegye good health, wisdom, and the support of his subjects both at home and in the diaspora.
Ohimegye is one of the few traditional rulers in the state and the entire country who has attained eight scores.
The royal father is a symbol of respect for the traditional institution. He has brought respect, grace, charm, simplicity to the institution in his locality, state and stands tall among the royal fathers in the country.
Ohimegye believes if the Native Authority system of Government did not conduct itself well the followers feel let down. It is always rare to see him parading government houses or ministries except for some obvious reasons. He has no inordinate lust for material things and lives a contented life. He is not a selfish leader. For him, life is about the interest of others.
A retired jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima once described Ohimegye Abdullahi thus:
“He carried himself with such dignity characteristic of palace tradition and in consonance with his heritage”.
Retired Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice C.A.R. Momoh who headed a Judicial Commission of inquiry into the activities of parastatals, statutory corporations, and government owned companies in the then Plateau State while Ohimegye served as Secretary of the commission on her part described the royal father as a man with “the tenderness of a lamb but with the heart of a lion” yet others see him as a “gentle dove”.
Beginning with sound Islamic teachings at age of four years, Ohimegye was later enrolled into Elementary School Umaisha in 1952 at the age of seven. He was always taking first position in the class. For example, in the final year, he took first position in a class of 28 pupils. “A keen/intelligent student” “very fair” “very good indeed” “he continues to do well” these were some of the remarks of his teachers in his report card in both Primary and Secondary School. He was appointed the head boy of the school. The appointment marked Ohimegye’s first taste of leadership.
Ohimegye and Umar Abubakar were the only two pupils that passed examination to Middle School. He was at Middle School Suleja, and later at Government Secondary School Abuja.
At Government Secondary School Abuja, the Royal Father met the likes of former FCT Minister (Late) Mamman Vatsa, Buba Ahmed former Minister for sports during late President Shehu Shagari’s administration among others, while they were classmates with Zamani Lekwot who became the Military Governor of Rivers State in 1975, Emir of Azara, HRH Musa Azara (late) and Usman Sabo Ago also of blessed memory etc. Again, he was appointed house prefect “Keffi House” while a student in Government Secondary School, Abuja.
Ohimegye thirst for more knowledge took him to Advanced Teacher’s College/Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for his NCE and degree program. He capped his quest for knowledge with a Master’s degree, University of Pittsburgh, United State of America, including Special courses he attended during his Civil Service career.
His royal highness working career started with the United Africa Company (UAC) in 1968 as Trainee-Supervisor and rose through the ranks and became the Area Manager, Northern Region. He worked very hard to justify the positions held as according to him hard work and faith in God are the keys to success. His working career with UAC came to an end in 1977 when then Plateau State government required his services and the then Military Administrator, Air Commodore Dan-Suleiman (late) appointed him Secretary, Plateau Investment Company, and later General Manager of Plateau Supply Company. He also worked in some ministries as Secretary, Permanent Secretary, and Director-General among others. Ohimegye had issues with the way government business were carried out with his personal integrity and as a principled man resigned his appointment with the government and resumed duty with his former employer at U.A.C in 1979. He was appointed the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Plateau State in 1994 by Col. Mohammed Mana, a position he held until his selection as the 28th Ohimegye Opanda in 1995 from Abutu Ruling House; thus far, he has spent 29 years of grace on the throne and ageing gracefully at 80 years of existence on planet earth.
As the paramount ruler of Opanda Chiefdom Ohimege has acted as the royal father to all the ethnic groups, be it Egbira, Bassa, Gade, Gbagyi or any other.
On Saturday, 15th May, 2010, eight illustrious sons and a daughter of Opanda Chiefdom were turbaned with various traditional titles. The conferment of these titles cut across ethnic groups and religion in the local government. The recognition was not just Egbira affair. As a way of giving other ethnic groups a sense of belonging a Bassa man, and a Christian, Honourable Musa Mejida (JP) now of blessed memory was given the traditional title of Wakilin Opanda, while a Gbagyi woman Ladi Musa (JP) also of blessed memory was recognized as Sarauniyan Opanda, from the Hausa community. Alhaji Ali Maigoro was honoured as the Katukan Opanda
When HRH Aguma of Oguma, and Chairman Traditional Council Bassa Local Government, Kogi State, His Royal Highness J.D. Kpongbo answered the call of his ancestors in 2012, Ohimege sent a delegation of his title holders on condolence visit to Oguma with an undisclosed amount of money to assist the palace.
It is also on record that at the presentation of staff of office to HRH Aguma Williams Keke Jimba on 16thAugust 2014, Ohimegye led an entourage that attended the ceremony at Oguma.
In 2016 when there was job opportunities with the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ohimegye ensured the few chances cut across board.
In 2011, the National President, Bassa Cultural and Development Union (BCDU) Barrister Yusuf Wodi led a delegation of illustrious sons and daughters of Bassa ethnic group to Umaisha on royal homage to Ohimegye. The visit was a huge success as the palace of the royal father stood still with Opanda traditional title holders backed up Ohimegye who received his August visitors.
Also in 2012, flood ravaged the riverine communities of Kogi State, many of the fishermen that were affected as a result of the flood crossed to Umaisha for shelter; Ohimegye received and accommodated them in irrespective of tribe or religion.
Ohimegye has continued to make frantic efforts for the improvement of his chiefdom, state and the entire country economy. Down memory lane, during the colonial administration, Umaisha was one of the busiest River Ports in the country. It was a link between Northern and Southern Nigeria in transportation of goods until the Murtala Mohammed Bridge in present Kogi State was constructed.
In a bold step, Ohimegye in a letter dated 25 of September, 1999 wrote the executive Governor of the State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu requesting him to liaise with the minister of Transport to facilitate construct a River Port in Umaisha to serve as a port for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Ohimegye argued for the resuscitation of “Umaisha port” because it is the closest River to the FCT, Abuja, it will reduce pressure on our roads and relax hold up in Abuja, aside improving the economy of the entire country.
There was no response from the Federal Government and six years later in 2005, Ohimegye wrote another letter directly to the Minister of Transport detailing the importance of the proposed Umaisha port as a needful project.
Ohimegye has always bared his mind on some fundamental issues affecting the country, Nigeria.
Ethnicity:
On ethnicity he said “the communal clashes and tribal wars taking place in Nigeria and African countries in general is a calamity which must be properly addressed. We have to realize the fact that God who created us has destined that certain tribes have to live together in particular areas. That’s why, for example, we have Egbira, Bassa, Gbagyi, and Gade as major tribes in Toto Local Government Area. Nupe, Gbagyi and Hausa in Niger State. Ijaw, Uhrobo, and Itsekiri in Delta area. And above all, Hausa and Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba in Nigeria. We must therefore tolerate one another”.
Religion:
“We have to bear in mind that whatever religion we belong to, we have to respect other people’s religion as much as we respect ours and realize the fact that our faith is between us and our Creator so that we have the fear of God in our hearts. It is by so doing that morality and sanity will prevail in this country”.
Love of the country:
“Nigeria is our country. We therefore have to be proud of our country. It is disheartening to hear some Nigerians saying bad things about the country. And in most cases, you find that those people are as dirty as pigs. Who are they deceiving? It is just like a father who goes out to tell people that his family is a mess. Will people not laugh at him? We must therefore be proud of our country and try to build its image instead of destroying. It is the duty of every Nigerian to be decent, tolerant, and upright in his or her activities so that this country will become a model for emulation”.
Shortly, after the Military regime handed power to civilian administration in October 1979, the first civilian Governor of the then Plateau State, (Late) Chief Solomon Daushep Lar set up a committee that identified dedicated sons and daughters of the State working outside to come back home and put good governance in place. As the saying goes, “a golden fish has no hiding place”, Ohimegye was identified as far away in Kano and brought back home as a team player in Chief Lar’s led administration.
On return from Kano, he was posted to the Plateau State Ministry of Education as Secretary. He officially resumed duties in July 1980 and while at the Ministry of Education; he facilitated the establishment of Government Secondary School, Umaisha.
Chief Lar gave him approval for further studies and HRH Ohimegye left Nigeria for United States of America (USA) for Master’s Degree in Administration January, 1982.
Ohimegye’s life of being principled with good moral values and integrity, devoted Muslim and God-fearing is a result of good teachings drummed into his head and siblings by his late father, Alhaji Abdullahi Yerima Dangara who once beat him (Ohimegye) with a folded newspaper because he broke the stand of his bicycle. Abdullahi destined to be a traditional ruler cried not for the pains of the beating but for making his old man angry. On a day, like this Hajiya Maryam Abdullahi (Ohimegye’s mother) whom God used to bring Ohimegye to existence for service to humanity is remembered. May Allah (SWT) grant the souls of both parents Aljannatu Firdausi. Amen
In 1985, the then Plateau State Government appointed him the Amirul of Hajj at the same time headed an ad-hoc committee that investigated allegations of illegal sale and misappropriation of proceeds from Government vehicles in Saudi Arabia. Some other ad-hoc committees Ohimegye were involved included Chairman sharing of Langtang Local Government Assets with newly created Langtang South. The royal father was also Chairman 1994-1995 Annual Budget Drafting Committee and the committee on Grains for a long time he served in committee on promotion/Advancement of senior officers in the State Civil Service and Committee on White Paper Drafting and Board member Kaduna Polytechnic.
Worrisome as we celebrate our father at 80 is the continued Toto conflict. How can a group of people that lived together for years, share boundary on their farms, go to the same market, drink from the same stream and in some cases live in same villages take up arms against each other and baptize themselves with the blood of their fellow brothers and sisters.
This conflict must end and dialogue is the best option to end it. After all the Toto conflict is avoidable, because the will to resolve issues is within the people.
The peace of Toto can be discussed in Government houses and elsewhere, agreed but most importantly it is within the hearts of Totolites. Peace or war according to Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari is constructed in the hearts of the people, therefore, with manifestation of peace within the heart of the people of Toto, a brand new Toto is possible.
Me thinks the best birthday gift the entire people of Toto can give Ohimegye as he celebrates this day is to resolve to live in peace with one another.
A living testimony, you always remain within your domain attending to the needs of your subjects.
Your Majesty, we celebrate you as a retired seasoned and hard working administrator, a respected traditional ruler who is upholding the values of the institution.
We celebrate you at 80, may ALLAH continue to give you good health, strength and wisdom – Agaaba-Iddu!!
Mathew, former Secretary, NUJ Nasarawa State Chapter, works with the Ministry of Information, Lafia.
