On fifteenth April 2026, the Nasarawa state authorities lastly named Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed Eko because the 4th Osu Ajiri of Edegye Chiefdom, in Nasarawa native authorities space of Nasarawa state. The primary-class stool had been vacant for nearly one 12 months for the reason that demise of Alhaji Halilu Bala Usman, the third Osu Ajiri, who died on twenty fifth Could 2025.
In addition to the contentious undercurrents that outlined the choice course of and the eventual announcement, the emergence of Alhaji Eko aligns with the agitations of the Eloyi/Afo individuals for an Osu Ajiri who’s grounded each linguistically and culturally, and in addition in tune with present realities, particularly by way of partaking the largely youthful Eloyi inhabitants, each on-line and offline.
In contrast to his predecessor, Prince Eko’s ancestry isn’t sophisticated and doesn’t require any severe investigation to unravel. Born on June 2 1972, Eko is from Agbazo, in Odu District of Udege Growth Space. His father is at the moment the village head of Agbazo. HRH Eko attended basis colleges within the village earlier than continuing to the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. So, he’s effectively grounded each within the language and methods of the individuals.
But, past the fanfare, I don’t envy the job Prince Eko has sought and received. He’s coming to the over 40-year-old throne at a time the chiefdom is dealing with a number of the worst challenges in its historical past.
From the disaffection and mutual mistrust that also linger among the many Eloyi/Afo individuals following the fratricidal conflict final 12 months that claimed many lives, to the ever-present battle between our individuals and the aggressive mining empire threatening to swallow the land whereas leaving a path of adverse penalties; from the latest violent assaults visited on the individuals by terrorists to the persistent farmer-herder clashes which have compelled many to desert farming, the occupation of our forebears; the brand new monarch clearly has his palms full.
He might be anticipated to earn his hold by navigating this delicate local weather, along with his quick job being the unification of our individuals. He may even be anticipated to discover a means of partaking the mining corporations at the moment feasting on our land, to extract concessions that may rework the present hostile relationship into one thing helpful for the chiefdom.
This half might be most delicate. He might want to expertly navigate competing pursuits, particularly those who contain authorities and the mining corporations themselves, and someway persuade them to concede floor, the proceeds of which ought to go into creating the chiefdom. That’s as herculean a job as will be envisaged.
HRH will then be anticipated to deliver our individuals to the desk and get them to have interaction in sincere conversations about easy methods to bury the hatchet. Contemplating our shared historical past, this will likely appear easy on the floor, however understanding how proud our individuals naturally are, it might effectively show to be essentially the most tough of all of the challenges earlier than him.
Then, we should confront the existential threats posed by herders. There’s hardly a 12 months that passes with out our individuals dropping their lives and crops to violent encounters with killer herders. The killings have change into so routine that the management of the Fulani group now not treats complaints from our individuals with the seriousness they deserve. This should change. If justice can’t be assured when crimes are dedicated, we shouldn’t be stunned when some start to contemplate self-help.
Nevertheless, probably the most pressing duties earlier than Prince Eko is the nativisation of the Osu Ajiri palace. For thus lengthy, however most particularly in the course of the reign of his predecessor, the palace has been intentionally tilted in the direction of Hausacentrism. Courtroom proceedings are performed in Hausa, titles are rendered in Hausa, and even the architectural expression of the palace displays a Hausa emirate id. A customer might simply assume they have been in a typical emirate setting someplace in Daura.
However he doesn’t need to do it alone. Many people, lots of whom contested the throne with him, in addition to present establishments might be invaluable on this respect. A part of the establishments that may assist the brand new monarch in reaching this cultural rebalancing is the Omadegye Cultural and Growth Membership (OCDA).
The resuscitation of OCDA should, due to this fact, be prime of his agenda. There are additionally newer {groups} such because the Afo Heritage Suppose Tank Initiative (AHTTI) which is but to actually come to the occasion, however has inside its ranks, many of the reverred little kids of our land, and the Afo Youth Mentorship Initiative (AYMi), a youth-led motion already getting into the hole left by OCDA.
Finally, Your Highness should discover a strategy to revive the annual Omadegye Cultural celebration. This flagship occasion has, through the years, served as a rallying level for our individuals, providing them a secure area to change concepts, critique each other constructively, and have fun our shared cultural heritage.
The listing could seem lengthy, however it’s in no way exhaustive. Nevertheless, I’m sure that Your Highness totally appreciates the enormity of the duty forward, even earlier than getting into the sector. Sadly, it could possibly solely get more durable from right here. That’s the reason I mentioned earlier that I don’t envy you.
But, I maintain firmly to the idea that our ancestors who settled on you as Osu Ajiri will information your hand as you try to ship on this cultural, conventional, and but unmistakably fashionable mandate.