The Idoma Area Traditional Council (IATC) has declared null and void the chieftaincy titles recently conferred on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and four other prominent dignitaries during a vibrant cultural festival in Benue State.
The decision, announced on Monday, underscores ongoing efforts to regulate traditional honors and prevent what the council describes as unauthorized bestowals that undermine cultural integrity.
The controversy erupted just days after the Igede Agba yam festival, an annual celebration of the Igede people's harvest traditions, held on September 6, 2025, in the Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
During the event, His Royal Highness CP Oga Ero (retd.), the Adiharu of Igede and chairman of the Igede Traditional Council, honored several guests with chieftaincy titles.
Among the recipients was President Tinubu, whose accolade was graciously accepted on his behalf by Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a native son of the region.
Akume, who represented the president at the festival, delivered a message praising traditional institutions for fostering peace, unity, and progress in Nigeria.
However, the IATC, led by its president and the Och’Idoma V, His Royal Majesty Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo John, swiftly intervened.
In a formal statement titled “Nullification of Purported Chieftaincy Titles Conferred by the Igede Traditional Council,” signed by council secretary Mr. Adegbe Uloko, the body cited a direct violation of its suspension order issued on September 2, 2025.
That directive had halted all chieftaincy title conferments across Idomaland until further notice, aimed at sanitizing and regulating the process to protect the heritage of these honors.
“The purported conferment of chieftaincy titles by the Igede Traditional Council on September 6, 2025, is in direct violation of the Declaration of the Idoma Area Traditional Council,” the statement read.
“Such conferments are null, void, and of no legal, customary, or traditional effect.”
The council emphasized its role as the sole government-recognized traditional authority in the Idoma nation, invoking provisions from the Benue State Chieftaincy Law of 2016 (as amended), particularly Part II, Section 7(d), which empowers area traditional councils to oversee chieftaincy matters and control the issuance of titles.
This legal framework, the IATC argued, vests ultimate authority in the paramount rulers—such as the Och’Idoma for Idomaland and the Tor Tiv for Tivland—ensuring that all honors align with established protocols.
The suspension was intended to curb what the council views as a proliferation of unregulated titles that could erode the prestige and unity of traditional institutions in Benue South.
The four other dignitaries who received titles alongside President Tinubu were not named in the council's statement, but reports indicate they were prominent figures honored for their contributions to the community and national development.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com