A new Attah Igala (King of Igala kingdom) has been named by the Kogi State Government. He is Matthew Opaluwa Oguche.
He succeeds Dr. Michael Ameh Oboni II who passed in August last year.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Salami Ozigi, made the news of the appointment of the new paramount ruler of the Igala ethnic nationality known after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, on Monday.
The appointment of Opaluwa, which Ozigi said followed due process, puts paid to jostling for the coveted office, which has been on for several months.
Opaluwa was born into the family of late Chief Opaluwa Oguche Akpa.
The prince is the ninth of 16 surviving children and the fourth of the six males of the late Chief Opaluwa Oguche of the Aju Ameacho ruling dynasty of Igala kingdom.
The new Attah Igala designate started his early education at St. Boniface Primary School, Idah, proceeded to St. Peter’s College, Idah and obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1980.
He attended School of Basic Studies, Ugbokolo in Benue state in 1981 and proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the same year where he obtained Bachelors of Science (B. Sc.) degree in Business Administration in 1986.
He returned to same school his Masters (MBA) degree in Business Administration in 1997.
Before his appointment, he had worked at Independent National Electoral Commission in 1988 as administrative officer and rose through the ranks to become Deputy Director.
He has served in many Local Government Areas of Kogi, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory as Electoral Officer but while in Katsina state, he was in charge of the Research and Documentation Unit of the Electoral body.