Titled:”FAKE “ETSU LOKOJA” EXPOSED
Gentleman of the Press
On behalf of the Leaders and Elders of Nupe indigenes of Lokoja, it is my singular honour and privilege to welcome all of you to this important press briefing. The purpose of this briefing is to acquaint you with some facts, and ultimately state our position, concerning Mr Emmanuel Dauda Shelika who has recently proclaimed himself as traditional ruler with the title of “Etsu Lokoja or Etsu Nupe Lokoja”. He appointed himself, unilaterally, and since then he has been parading himself in the news media in that capacity.
(1) We, the Nupe indigenes of Lokoja, are well known for upholding our agelong values of exemplary character, decency, decorum, respect for law and constituted authorities. We also take pride in promoting peaceful coexistence amongst the populace in all our legitimate endeavours, especially in the pursuit of our means of livelihood or whatever affects our lives or society. Unfortunately, we have observed with dismay that recently an individual by name Mr Emmanuel Dauda Shelika is trying hard to dent our image and rubbish those values that we sincerely hold dear to our hearts.
(2) As you might be already aware, Mr Emmanuel Shelika has informed the general public that he has appointed himself as traditional ruler with a strange title of “Etsu Lokoja or Etsu Nupe Lokoja” in violation of the laws of Kogi State on the subject.
Consequently, he has been holding out himself in that capacity. Needless to say that his action is not only daring but also extremely dangerous to the authority and jurisdiction of the entire chieftaincy establishment in Lokoja Local Government, and by extension Kogi State. His action is, no doubt, capable of undermining the respect, reverence and nobility of our great traditional institution. Hence, the need for us, the Nupe indigenes of Lokoja, to state our position on the matter cannot be overemphasized.
Our clarification is necessary for the urgent attention and action of government and the general public, including you, the press, who has been our cherished partners in our collective efforts to foster the progress and development of Kogi State, and Lokoja in particular.
(3) From time immemorial, we have never had any chieftaincy title known as Etsu Lokoja or Etsu Nupe Lokoja. So, the claim by Mr Emmanuel Dauda Shelika that he is a descendant of the bearer of that title who, according to him, was once a chief of Lokoja is a fallacy. This much has been affirmed by our respected Courts, from the High Court of Justice Holden at Koton Karfi all the way through the Court of Appeal Abuja to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
( 4) Mr Emmanuel Shelika had neither sought nor obtained our prior consent before he formed an association known as “Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Association” with which he has been collecting donations from his unsuspecting victims, purportedly on our behalf, but quite certainly without our knowledge. So also he has been transmitting his personal opinion to government with the letterhead papers of that association just to create a false impression that it is the collective opinion of the Nupe Natives/ indigenes of Lokoja. It is for that reason that, we, the Nupe indigenes of Lokoja, have written several letters to government and relevant agencies from year 2023 to date to create awareness on his mischievous activities and motives.
In swift response to our letters, those activities were promptly suspended by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Lokoja Local Government with the collaboration of the security agencies, at various times, in the overall interest of peace in the state. We sincerely appreciate government for always taking prompt actions on the matter.
(5)Mr Emmanuel Shelika is also an impostor by claiming to be a custodian of the European Cemeteries in Lokoja as well as the tombs of deceased Northern Emirs who were deposed by colonial government and banished to Lokoja. His claim was most visible during the recent visit of Senator Shehu Sani to those tombs as well as Mr Shelika’s press releases over that visit.
We therefore wish to use this medium to advise prospective tourists who intend to visit those tombs to contact either the Palace of His Royal Highness, the Maigari of Lokoja or Lokoja Local Government or the Ministry of Culture and Tourism or Kogi Hotel and Tourism Board for proper guidance. These institutions have either direct or oversight responsibilities to ensure the maintenance and preservation of those
tombs, and particularly to protect them from the nefarious activities of money ritualists and hoodiums. For avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that the descendants of those deposed Emirs are very much in contact with the Maigari of Lokoja. In fact, their representatives visit him
and those tombs frequently.
( 6) in view of the above, we wish to state categorically that: i. Mr Shelika is neither a traditional ruler nor the leader of the Nupe Natives/ Indigenes of Lokoja, and we have not mandated him to represent us, in any capacity, on any matter before government or in the public domain. We, therefore, advise him to comply with the order of Lokoja Local Government which stops him from parading himself as a traditional ruler. In addition, he should aiso stop presenting himself to tourist as custodian of the historical monuments in Lokoja or even soliciting or receiving money for maintaining them, in his own interest.
(||) Government institutions and the general public should disregard any letter sent to them by the so called “Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Association”, including but not limited to requests for financial assistance by the association or any person acting on its behalf because it does not have our blessing, support and backing.
Finally, we hereby plead with Kogi State Government under our people-friendly governor, His Excellency, Alh Ahmed Usman Ododo,the Executive Governor of the State to take more prompt and decisive actions to halt the nuisances of Mr Shelika and bring him to Justice,jn the shortest time possible. We assure our governor of our unflinching loyalty and support always.
Thank you and God Bless.
Signed: Alhaji Rajab Naibi
Dan Maje Lokoja and Waziri Haske Nupe, Chairman Nupe Community Lokoja.
Barrister Sayadi Abubakar Ebaiya. Secretary, Nupe Community Lokoja.
