The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, has put the blame for his absence during President Muhammadu Buhari to Okene at the doorstep of the state government.
In his response to a January 5, 2023 query from the government, he revealed that he was not officially informed of the visit.
He, however, disclosed that about 12 hours to the presidential visit, the state commissioner for local government and chieftancy affairs was in his palace to tell him about the visit, but advised him to remain in the palace as President Buhari was going to pay him a courtesy call.
Everyday.ng reports that President Buhari was in Okene on 29th December, 2022 to inaugurate some “legacy projects” of Governor Yahaya Bello, which included a brand new palace for the Ohinoyi; but the paramount ruler did not show up after a bomb blast went off in his palace killing three persons and injuring others.
The bomb blast happened at least an hour before the President’s chopper touched down in the ancient town.
The alleged perpetrators of the bombing have since been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS),which named Ibrahim Otaru (aka Abu Mikdad) and one of his associates, Saidu Suleiman.
https://everyday.ng/2023/01/mastermind-of-okene-bombing-before-president-buharis-visit-arrested/
Responding to the query by the Kogi State Government, the Ohinoyi, in his response dated 6th January, disclosed that he got an unofficial copy of the programme of the President’s visit at about 8.15 a.m. only to discover that the palace to be commissioned at 10.10 a.m. was a new one, which he had not been officially informed about.
https://everyday.ng/2023/01/face-off-kogi-govt-letter-querying-paramount-ruler-of-ebiraland-angers-residents/
“This observation implied that Mr President was to commission another palace other than my current palace that I have been occupying since I was coronated in 1997. It is worthy of note that as the paramount ruler of Ebira land, I have not been officially informed of the existence of any palace”.
Recalling the visit of the President 37 years earlier as military head of state in 1985, the royal father said he was in the process of preparing for the President’s visit to his palace when a bomb went off at 9.00 a.m. within the precincts of his palace.
“While I was in the palace ensuring that the casualties of the unfortunate incident were being attended to, I was informed that the President had concluded his programme and departed to Lokoja. I also discovered that the main wall of the entrance had been breached and all entrances to the palace had been barricaded to make access to and fro impossible. I have been kept in the dark from the reception arrangements and necessary entertainment to welcome the President on his second visit to Okene, and from extolling the dear pleasure of my people to receive him,” the traditional ruler added in his response.
“It is worth mentioning to enforce gratitude to the Governor Yahaya Bello who I have not seen for sometimes now to have informed Mr President I was unavoidably absent due to ill-health at his grand reception.
“While on the other hand, a person unknown to me represented me and read out a welcome speech to Mr President on my behalf which was not sanctioned by me.”
Dr Ado Ibrahim noted that apart from the query he received from the government, there has been no letter or statement to commiserate or inquire about the unfortunate bomb blast that led to the disruption of Mr President’s programme, loss of lives of Ebirra people and massive damage to his palace and rancour within his domain.
He, however, declared that he would continue to reign over the good people of Ebiraland “with good conscience” as he had always done.