Images of Ebiraland

Ismail M. Kabir, Reporting from Lokoja. With Shaky hands, I tried to take snapshots of the ghostly sight of Ogaminana. The town was aglow with commercial and social activities on my way to Lokoja from Okene, about 20 hours earlier. Along the Idanuhua road, I saw two long vehicles laden with Iron ore, parked in the middle of the road. Upon inquiry, I was told they were the hijacked vehicles conveying iron ore from Itakpe Iron ore Minning project. I couldn't get hold of my camera to take the shots, I planned to do so upon my return, but as fate would have it, Ogaminana has worn a horrific look before my return. In a commando-styled reaction to the loss of one of their colleagues in a gun battle between the police and Ebira youths following the hijack of GIHL trucks conveying Iron ore from Itakpe to Warri, Nigerian Police turned Ogaminana community of Adavi LG, Kogi State into a shadow of itself. About 20 lives were lost, Motor Vehicles numbering about 50 were burnt to ashes while mo...

Teddy Nwanunobi (Leadership), Abuja The crisis that have been rocking the nation's steel sector may well be at its end, as there are indications that Indian steel giant, the Global Infrastructure Holding (Nig.) Limited, would be stripped off the rights of control over the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and the Nigerian Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO). This follows the recommendation of the committee set up by the Federal Government to probe the concession and later purchase agreement between government and GIHL on the two steel companies to terminate the agreement with immediate effect. It would be recalled that the minister of mines and steel development, Chief Sarafadeen Isola, had, on the orders from the presidency, set up a 5-man committee on October 30, 2007 to into the Concession and Share Sale/Purchase Agreement that was entered into between government and the Indian steel company. LEADERSHIP can authoritatively report that the report of the Mallam Magaji Inua-led ...

The battle for supremacy in Kogi state by the major ethnic communities; Igalla, Ebira and Okuns have taken a dramatic turn as supporters of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Congress (AC) continue to unleash terror on one another in Okene and Ayignba. In this interview with Ismail M. Kabir, Barrister Abdul Mumuni Yakub Usman, a legal practioner, speaks on Ebira political naivety and other sundry issues. Excerpts: Can we meet you? My name is Barrister Abdul Mumuni Yakubu Usman, a legal practitioner, an Ebira man from Kogi central, Nigeria. Legally, who will you describe as an Ebira man? An Ebira man is anybody that hails from kogi central, whether from Okene, Okehi, Adavi and Ajaokuta local Government areas. We understand you are not a politician, but can you tell us about Ebiras, politically? It is very unfortunate that politics in my own state is not what politics is meant to be. In Kogi state, we play politics of mischief and hooliganism. Politics where few money-bags hijack...

DO YOU HAVE A STORY FOR THESE IMAGES? PLEASE SEND THEM ACROSS. IT'LL BE APPRECIATED. AVO. Photos by Maryam Oziohu Ismaila Late Abdul Malik Atta of Ebiraland, Nigeria's 1st High Commission to U K Late Sheikh Ahmad Rufai-the grand Sheikh of the Tijanniyat sect in Ebiraland-conducting the Nikkah (Muslim Marriage rites) between Mr. Muhammed Tijani and Mrs. Halimat Salihu in 1989. Late Sheikh Ahmad Rufai surrounded by some of his children and two loyal disciples, Alhaji Abukar (right,standing) and Alhaji Usman Eneye (Lapping a boy) Ebiras gather in thousands to witness the burial of Sheikh Ahmad Rufai at Idoji Okene, October, 1991 Late Sheikh Ahmad Rufai and his late brother, Alhaji Sanni Omolori (in veil), the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland who ruled for 40 years, 40 days (From right) Late Alh. Abubakar Ibadi (in grey turban), Late Alh. Abdul Rahman (Naibi of Ebiraland, reading the sermon), Late Alh. Usman and Alh. Sadiku Opochi at the Okene Eid praying ground during a sallah festival L...

Written by Abdullahi Yahaya Bello Saturday, 09 February 2008 Senator Mohammed Ohiare was the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress in the disputed 2007 election. In this interview, he says his chance in the rescheduled governorship polls in March is very bright. Weekly Trust: What is your reaction to the Court of Appeal on the Kogi governorship election? Senator Mohammed Ohiare: It is a landmark judgement. It shows that our judiciary is very much alive to their responsibilities and we are very much proud of them. WT: Are you going to stand for election again? Ohiare: Of course, I have the mandate of my people. They have not told me that they have withdrawn their mandate. I am going to contest and I have the full backing of my party. WT: Prior to this judgement, there was rumour that you have joined forces with the ANPP candidate, Abubakar Audu. How true is this? Ohiare: Discussion is still going on and in politics you can never predict anything. Anything can happen. WT: There ...

Mrs. Sheefau Badams is the wife of Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Physical planning and the immediate past Chairman of Adavi Local Government, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Badamasuiy. Born on 30th of March 1974 in Okene to the Family of Alhaji Salihu Momoh and Late Mrs. Zainab Salihu, Mrs. Sheefau Badamsuiy obtained her primary and post primary education in Okene before she went to pursue a career as a nursing student at the Kogi state School of Nursing, Obangede. Married at the age of 19, Mrs. Sheefau, now 33, did her internship at the Psychiatric Hospital, Usielu/Benin, Edo State and became a registered Nurse with Adavi local Government of Kogi state. She worked with the Federal College of Education, Okene and Okene General Hospital where her extraordinary attention and care for the patients under critical conditions won her a reputation and strong admiration from many. Upon her husband’s entry into active politics, she became a full housewife to fulfil the rising need for her su...