Controversy over Ohimege stool’s succession
Written by Usman A. Bello, Lokoja Tuesday, 29 May 2012
The Odaki ruling house of Koton Karfe local government of Kogi state, yesterday said Seidu Salihu Akawu is their choice for the vacant stool of the Ohimege Igu of the area.
A member of the family and leader of a body known as Justice Forum, Ahmed Rufai Isakoto said this in a press conference yesterday in Lokoja.
He said the name of Seidu Salihu Akawu has been forward to the Koton Karfe/Lokoja area traditional council.
He said three major contestants Halidu Ibrahim and Abdulrazaq Isa Koto, contested alongside Akawu for the throne in Odaki clan, which is expected to produce the next paramount ruler.
He said that Saidu Salihu secured 16 votes; Gambo Isa Koto got 11 votes while Halidu Ibrahim scored nil. He explained that the process was introduced because none of the contestants was willing to step down.
He stressed that based on the development, Saidu Akawu Salihu is the valid candidate of the Odaki ruling clan, saying that the kingmakers had equally endorsed him for the first class vacant stool.
“It was worrisome when Mohammed Koto who announced the result and handed it to the clan head for onward transmission to the Madaki of Koton Karfe. Now turn round to support Gambo Sani Isakoto who lost is the highest level of treachery. The 10 compounds which constitute the Odaki clan participated actively in the process that produced Akawu as the preferred candidate,” he said.
It would be recalled that Mohammed Abdullahi Koto had recently addressed the press saying that one Gambo Sani Isakoto has been chosen by the Odaki ruling houses and not Seidu Salihu Akawu.
