Chieftaincy titles controversy: Apologise or you’ll be suspended – Idoma people tell Adirahu Ny’Igede

After days of silence, Adirahu Ny’Igede, Oga Ero, has denied conferring chieftaincy titles on President Bola Tinubu and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, during the recently concluded Igede Agba festival.

IDOMA VOICE gathered that the controversy arose from chieftaincy titles reportedly conferred by Oga Ero during the festival—an action the Idoma Area Traditional Council (IATC) insists was carried out without the approval of its chairman, the Och’Idoma, HRM Agabaidu Elaigwu Odogbo John.

The Idoma Council has since nullified the titles, citing the Benue State Chieftaincy Law of 2016 (as amended), Part II, Section 7(d), which recognizes the IATC as the supreme traditional authority within Benue South. In a statement, the Council declared:

“Such conferments are null, void, and of no legal, customary, or traditional effect. The Idoma Area Traditional Council remains the legally constituted and government-recognized traditional authority over the Idoma nation, and any acts contrary to its directives constitute a breach of extant law.”

Exclusive findings by IDOMA VOICE confirm that at no point did the Adirahu nominate President Tinubu or SGF Akume for any honour in his correspondence with the Och’Idoma.

In August 2025, ahead of the festival, the Adirahu wrote to the Och’Idoma, informing him of the planned celebrations, with the conferment of chieftaincy titles listed among the activities. In his response, the Och’Idoma directed Oga Ero to postpone the conferment of titles until the IATC could meet and take a collective decision. He stressed caution, citing rising insecurity in the region, and reminded Oga Ero that several dignitaries, including Governor Hyacinth Alia and his deputy, had already been honoured during his second year on the throne.

To prevent defiance, the Och’Idoma also issued a circular ordering that no king within Benue South should confer any title without the express approval of the IATC.

Despite this clear directive, the Adirahu proceeded in September 2025 to confer titles. The action, seen as outright defiance, prompted the IATC to declare the exercise null and void, insisting it had “no legal, customary, or traditional effect.”

Shortly afterwards, some media outlets reported that President Tinubu and SGF Akume were among those whose titles were nullified. However, palace records and letters obtained by IDOMA VOICE show that the names mentioned in the August correspondence were only Nelson Alapa, Patrick Idoko, and a few others. A palace source dismissed the media reports as deliberate misinformation.

Following the denial, the Igede monarch clarified that he did not confer titles on Tinubu and Akume. He, however, remained silent on the titles conferred on other individuals despite the directive not to do so. The development has further sparked calls for his suspension for allegedly disrespecting the Och’Idoma throne.

The development has triggered strong reactions from Idoma community leaders and residents, who are now demanding an immediate apology from the Igede monarch for misleading both the media and his subjects. They described his delayed clarification as disrespectful to the Och’Idoma throne and an affront to the Idoma nation.

Mr. Joseph Agaba, a community leader in Ogbadibo Local Government Area, said: “It is unacceptable that the monarch waited this long to deny the conferment. The people were misled, and this undermines the authority of the Och’Idoma. We demand an immediate apology to restore respect for the throne.”

Another resident, Mrs. Grace Agbo of Apa LGA, added: “His comment comes too late. The misinformation has already circulated widely, and our people have been confused. The Adirahu must apologize without delay for the sake of the community.”

Speaking further, Obam Okpe Matthew said: “The whole mess was caused by Adirahu Ny’Igede. If he knows he has ‘CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,’ why did he write the Och’Idoma in the first place? It is regrettably wrong to lead people with EMOTIONS AND SENTIMENT. The best approach is DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS, not SOCIAL MEDIA ranting. He is DUTY BOUND TO APOLOGIZE TO THE OCH’IDOMA AS WELL AS HIS SUBJECTS, especially social media agitators.”