Ameh Oboni: See how the next Attah Igala will emerge

Following the journey of Attah of Igala, Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni, to his ancestral home, IDOMA VOICE reveals the process that would lead to the emergence of the next Attah of Igala.

The process would kick-start after the ruling family has selected the Attah, being the next family in line, they would be asked to come and meet a chief called Etemayi and announce that their family has already zeroed in on one person as the next Attah.

Then the Etemayi will go to the Achadu (the next person to the Attah) and tell him that a successor has been found. Then he would examine him to see if he is physically fit and without deformity.  He will also check if he is a stammerer.

A stammerer cannot be the Attah. You must be of average height and you must be athletic in appearance. Without all these qualities, Achadu can disqualify the candidate and tell the family to produce another candidate. If the deformity is obvious, the Achadu will disqualify the candidate because traditionally, the Attah- to- be is going to be the wife of the Achadu so he must have good qualities and everything must be working in his body.

After that, the Attah-elect must have to proceed to Ugwolawo, about 16miles away from Idah on the way to Anyigba, where he will pass the night. He will start the journey of 16 miles back to Idah by foot before coronation is started.

When the coronation ceremony starts properly in Idah, they will go to the burial ground and carry nine Ifa priests in the night, and all the priests would stay and do their divination to see how the Attah’s reign would be and whether he would be so harsh on the kingdom that would cause them to go to war or whether he would be the one that would bring about peace. If finally they agree the Attah would be crowned, he would be crowned the following morning.