No fewer than 70 candidates jostling for the stool of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi are being screened by a committee to replace late Alhaji Ado Ibrahim who died on Oct. 29.The late Ohinoyi died at the age of 94.
Alhaji Yunusa Sule, Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okene on Monday.
“The number would have been 71 but the 71st person is a female Professor, Angela Oregwu-Okatahi, who by our tradition, is not eligible to contest for the stool.”
“,The 70 eligible contestants are from four of the five eligible districts in Kogi: Okewe, Ohema, Erika, Aganiye and Adavi.
*Adavi district is left out of the race because that’s where the late Ohinoyi came from.
The secretary further said that the screening for the eligible persons was in line with Edit 97 (3) put in place by a former Military Governor of the state, Col. B.L. Ofakeriya and the state government’s Chieftaincy Law of June 2006.
He said that a committee saddled with the responsibility of screening the contestants was set up a the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Barr. Salami Ozigi.
Those in the contest include : former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Muhammed Ataba Omolori, and former deputy governor of Kogi, Chief Philip Salawu, Ohi of Okengwe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje and host of others.
Full List of applicants and their respective local government areas.
1. Mall. Salami Audu Jibril – Okene
2. Yusuf Abubakar Amuda – Okene
3. Alh. Dr. Amin Abubakar Obaje – Okene
4. Mall. Ibrahim Ahi Ondeku – Adavi
5. Shehu Ahmed A. Ivaju – Okene
6. Ibrahim Hakeem A. Omuya – Okene
7. Mall. Abdullahi Abdulfatai Badogu – Okene
8. Muhammed Yunusa – Adavi
9. Engr. Jibrin Ibrahim – Okene
10. Prince Haruna A. Yusuf – Okene
11. Mr. Sadiq Ozovehe Umar – Ajaokuta
12. Barr. Momohsanni Shaibu – Okene
13. Hon. Sidiq Abdulrahaman Osomose – Okene
14. Alh. Siyaka Ayihi Odoba – Okene
15. Ohida Wahab Ohiku – Okene
16. Dr. Philip Omeiza Salawu – Okehi
17. Ibrahim Jibril Adavize – Okehi
18. Alh. Umar Muhammed Mudashiru – Okehi
19. HRH Alh. Dr. Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje – Okene
20. M. A Sani Omolori – Okene
21. Alh. Alkahi Abdulrahaman Bello – Okehi
22. Yusuf Maishadu Adavuchi – Okehi
23. Suleiman Godwin Ogirima – Okehi
24. Ahmed Ayimi Momohjimoh – Ajaokuta
25. Mall. Ismaila F. Sule – Ajaokuta
26. Dr. Anabe Aliu Tijani – Adavi
27. Isezuo Edward Jatto – Adavi
28. Abdullahi Jabar Ametuo – Okehi
29. Abdulmalik Salawu (Amas) – Okene
30. Hon. Hussein Yusuf – Okene
31. Alh. Lasisi Sule Oseyiza Ogu – Ajaokuta
32. Dr. Abdulrahaman Musa Ovavu Adeiza – Okehi
33. All Ado Adams – Okene
34. Engr. Abubakar Yakubu Mosuwa – Okehi
35. Salihu Yunusa – Okene
36. Ohioze Itopa Salami – Okehi
37. Abanika Taiye Haruna Ohiani – Okehi
38. Isa Abdullahi Obaro – Okene
39. Hassan Salawu Odoba – Okene
40. Alh. Muktar O. Isa Sani – Okene
41. Abdullahi Enebere Jimoh Adaaja – Okehi
42. Mall. Yakubu Jimoh – Okene
43. Engr. Mohammed Okatahi Ibrahim – Okehi
44. Mall. Abdulrahaam Suberu – Okene
45. Abbas Muhammed Sani Omolori – Okene
46. Mr. Ohiare Itopa Salami – Adavi
47. Momohjimoh Bello – Ajaokuta
48. Tijani Sani Omolori – Okene
49. Ohida Abdulmaliq Haruna – Okene
50. Babatunde Unwaha – Ajaokuta
51. Muktar Muhammed – Okene
52. Shaibu Raimi – Okene
53. M. M. Salami – Okene
54. Abdulrahim Adinoyi – Okehi
55. Abdulmalik Abdulrazak Onuku – Ajaokuta
56. Saaki Muhammed Sani – Okene
57. Omonanyi Adams – Okene
58. Alh. Ahmed Adams – Okene
59. Ilyasu Yusuf Badoko – Okene
60. Engr. Audu Okikiri Edward – Okene
61. Zubair Adinoyi Ilyasu – Okene
62. Ahmed O. Usman – Okehi
63. Mr. Lawal Babameigida Abu – Okehi
64. Dr. Banny Adeku Ojiah – Okene
65. Alh. Abdullahi Isah Ogu – Okene
66. Mall. Sule Buhari Omeiza – Okene
67. AY Abdulwahab – Okene
68. Engr. Prof. Ibrahim Onuwe Abdulmalik – Okehi
69. Tahir Adam Abdullahi – Okehi
70. Muhammed Bashiru Yakubu – Okehi