Celebrating 82 Years of Grace & Leadership: The Enduring Legacy of Ohimegye Opanda (part 1)

By Matthew Tukura 

His Royal Highness, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha Chiefdom and President of the Toto Local Government Traditional Council, Nasarawa State a seasoned administrator is eighty-two (82) years old today. Born a prince on 4th January, 1944, he is the great-great grandson of the legend, Ohimegye Negedu, the founder of the Opanda dynasty. He is the 28th monarch on the throne and has spent over 30 years there as the longest-serving Ohimegye in the history of the chiefdom. He was appointed Ohimegye on June 21, 1995, with the status of a second-class chief and was presented his staff of office by Col. Mohammed Mana. Today, he is a first-class chief and the oldest in the state.

Ohimegye Abdullahi is a soft-spoken person, calm; he talks less and gives inconsequential attention to attending ceremonies. That notwithstanding, friends, relations, and colleagues will put on the proverbial dancing shoes and join him to celebrate the day. Worthy of celebration with grateful hearts is that God has given him good health, wisdom, and the support of his subjects both at home and in diaspora. Ohimegye is one of the few traditional rulers in the state and the entire country who has attained eight scores.

The royal father is a symbol of respect for the traditional institution. He has brought respect, grace, charm, and simplicity to the institution in his locality, state, and stands tall among the royal fathers in the country. Ohimegye believes if the Native Authority system of government does not conduct itself well, the followers feel let down. It is always rare to see him parading government houses or ministries except for some obvious reasons. He has no inordinate lust for material things and lives a contented life with what God has given him. He is not a selfish leader; for him, life is not supposed to be about me, myself, and I, but the interest of others.

A retired jurist of the Supreme Court, Justice Suleiman Galadima, once described Ohimegye Abdullahi thus: “He carried himself with such dignity characteristic of palace tradition and in consonance with his heritage.” Retired Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice C.A.R. Momoh, who headed a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the activities of parastatals, statutory corporations, and government-owned companies in the then Plateau State while Ohimegye served as Secretary of the commission, described the royal father as a man with “the tenderness of a lamb but with the heart of a lion.” Yet others see him as a “gentle dove.”

Beginning with sound Islamic teachings at the age of four (4) years, Ohimegye was later enrolled into Elementary School, Umaisha in 1952 at the age of seven (7). He always took first position in the class. For example, in the final year, he took first position in a class of 28 pupils. “A keen and intelligent student,” “very fair,” “very good indeed,” “he continues to do well” these were some of the remarks of his teachers in his report card in both primary and secondary schools. He was the head boy of the school. This early appointment marked Ohimegye’s first taste of leadership.

Ohimegye and Umar Abubakar were the only two pupils that passed the examination to Middle School. He attended Middle School, Suleja, and later Government Secondary School, Abuja. At Government Secondary School, Abuja, the Royal Father met the likes of former FCT Minister (Late) Mamman Vatsa, Buba Ahmed, former Minister for Sports during late President Shehu Shagari’s administration, among others. His classmates included Zamani Lekwot, who became the Military Governor of Rivers State in 1975, the late Emir of Azara, HRH. Musa Azara, and Usman Sabo Ago, also of blessed memory. Again, he was appointed house prefect of “Keffi House” while a student in Government Secondary School, Abuja.

Ohimegye’s thirst for more knowledge took him to Advanced Teacher’s College and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for his NCE and degree program. He capped his quest for knowledge with a Master’s Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, United States of America, including special courses he attended during his civil service career.

His working career started with the United Africa Company (UAC) in 1968 as a Trainee Supervisor. He rose through the ranks and became the Area Manager for the Northern Region. He worked very hard to justify the positions held, as according to him, hard work and faith in God are the keys to success. His career with UAC came to an end in 1977 when the then Plateau State government required his service. The then Military Administrator, Air Commodore Dan-Suleiman (late), appointed him Secretary of the Plateau Investment Company and later General Manager of Plateau Supply Company. He also worked in some ministries as Secretary, Permanent Secretary, and Director-General, among others. Ohimegye had issues with the way government business was carried out, conflicting with his personal integrity. As a principled man, he resigned his appointment with the government and resumed duty with his former employer at UAC in 1979. He was appointed the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Plateau State in 1994 by Col. Mohammed Mana, a position he held until his selection as the 28th Ohimegye of Opanda in 1995 from the Abutu Ruling House. Thus far, he has spent 30 years of grace on the throne and is ageing gracefully at 82 years of existence on planet earth.

As the paramount ruler of Opanda Chiefdom, Ohimegye has acted as the royal father to all the ethnic groups, be it Egbira, Bassa, Gade, Gbagyi, or any other. On Saturday, 15th May, 2010, eight illustrious sons and a daughter of Opanda Chiefdom were turbaned with various traditional titles. The conferment of these titles cut across ethnic groups and religion in the local government. The recognition was not just an Egbira affair. As a way of giving other ethnic groups a sense of belonging, a Bassa man and Christian, Honourable Musa Mejida (JP) now of blessed memory, was given the traditional title of Wakilin Opanda, while a Gbagyi woman, Ladi Musa (JP) also of blessed memory, was honored as Sarauniyan Opanda. From the Hausa community, Alhaji Ali Maigoro was honoured as the Katukan Opanda.

When HRH Aguma of Oguma and Chairman of the Traditional Council of Bassa Local Government, Kogi State, His Royal Highness J.D. Kpongbo, answered the call of his ancestors in 2012, Ohimegye sent a delegation of his title holders on a condolence visit to Oguma with an undisclosed amount of money to assist the palace. It is also on record that at the presentation of the staff of office to HRH Aguma Williams Keke Jimba on 16th August, 2014, Ohimegye led an entourage that attended the ceremony at Oguma. In 2016, when there were job opportunities with the Nigeria Correctional Service, Ohimegye ensured the few chances cut across the board.

In 2011, the National President of the Bassa Cultural and Development Union (BCDU), Barrister Yusuf Wodi, led a delegation of illustrious sons and daughters of the Bassa ethnic group to Umaisha on royal homage to Ohimegye. The visit was a huge success as the palace of the royal father stood still with Opanda traditional title holders backing up Ohimegye, who received his august visitors. Also in 2012, flood ravaged the riverine communities of Kogi State; many of the fishermen that were affected as a result of the flood crossed to Umaisha for shelter. Ohimegye received and accommodated them irrespective of tribe or religion.

Ohimegye has continued to make frantic efforts for the improvement of his chiefdom, state, and the entire country. Down memory lane, during the colonial administration, Umaisha was one of the busiest river ports in the country. It was a link between Northern and Southern Nigeria in the transportation of goods until the Murtala Mohammed Bridge in present-day Kogi State was constructed. In a bold step, Ohimegye, in a letter dated 25th September, 1991, wrote to the then Executive Governor of the State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, requesting him to liaise with the Minister of Transport to facilitate the construction of a River Port in Umaisha to serve as a port for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Ohimegye argued for the resuscitation of Umaisha Port “because it is the closest river to the FCT, Abuja. It will reduce pressure on our roads and relax hold up in Abuja, aside from improving the economy of the entire country.” There was no response from the Federal Government, and six years later, in 2005, Ohimegye wrote another letter directly to the Minister of Transport detailing the importance of the proposed Umaisha Port as a needful project.

TO BE  CONTINUED TOMORROW