Our history is replate with so much revisionism.
According to available records, the Kwararafa Empire collapsed at the tail end of the 10th Century. The Empire collapsed when the mighty army of the Kingdom defeated then at the Inachalo war which freed other tribes that occupied the Confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue.
This resulted in the emergence of the Attah as the Emperor from the ashes of the Kwararafa Empire.
Its equally on record that Mungo Park, The Lander Brothers etc sought the relief of the Attah to have a passage on the Niger.
At its height in the 17th Century, Igala Empire shares boundary with Effik. Yoruba and Hausa Kingdoms. Its was so when the Queen of England sent emissaries to Attah Ame Ocheje to lease part of his land to the British as a demonstration farm at Idah but the Attah instead provided the land along the confluence of River Niger and Benue and north of Itobe across river Niger.
What the Attah is asking for is to redress the injustices of our colonial masters who maliciously dismembered Igala Kingdom while leaving intact Oyo Empire, Bini Empire, Effik Empire, etc.
It is also asking that the proceeds of the lease enshrined in the Attah – Queen Elizabeth Treaty be redeemed since its the Nigerian Govt that inherited the assets and liabilities of the British Empire when got our independence in 1960.
I don’t think Attah Igala is asking to be made overlord over the 3 LGAs in question but to set the records straight for posterity.
Uthman Uthman write from Lokoja.
