To the people of Ebiraland in Kogi Central senatorial district, Kogi State, late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta was a hero who ruled the land with his best and left a mark of honour. The history of Ebira people of Kogi State cannot be told without mentioning HRM Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta who played a significant role in the development of the land when he was the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland known as the Atta of Ebiraland then.
According to history, he was born in the year 1884 to a man simply identified as the Chief Otaru of Kuroko of Ozudu clan while his mother was Zainab Ejinovo popularly known as Iyebe.
While he was young, he learnt the art of statesmanship from his grandfather, Atta Omadivi, and he learnt his successful business ventures from his industrious mother, Iyebe.
He was committed to give his business a lift and learnt to speak Hausa, Nupe, Igala, Edo, Tiv, Yoruba, Igbo and Pigdin English during his business trips.
He was appointed by the Colonial government as the first British Chief executive and ruled Ebirland land under the title Atta of Ebirland between 1917-1954.
He demonstrated great patriotism and devotion to his domain, evidenced in the many developmental projects he accomplished during his reign.
As early as 1923, he made Ebiraland the first to have pipe borne water in the whole of Northern Nigeria.
He built the only existing prison in Okene in 1927 and the Native/Customary Court in Ebiraland. Some of the roads he constructed many years ago are still existing till today.
The Atta exposed his domain to the outside world through the construction of a network of roads, effectively positioning Okene as the link between the North and South.
He was the first Ebira man to learn the Quran and spearheaded the construction of a befitting Central Mosque at Okene. He also accommodated the first missionaries who freely propagated Christianity without any hindrance.
His influence brought the first Native Authority School (NA) as early as 1923 in Okene. He projected education as a tool for the future which is evident in his children.
He was blessed with children who have not only make the people of Ebira proud but Nigeria as a country. Some of his successful children whose legacies continue to linger are:
Alhaji AbdulMalik Atta
Ambassador Abdulmalik Ibrahim Atta is the eldest child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. He was the first Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Born April 1, 1906 in Okene, Ambassador Abdulmalik Ibrahim Atta is the first Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom until he was moved to Paris as the Nigerian Ambassador to France in 1967. He died on 28th August 1969.
Abdulaziz Atta
Born April 1, 1920. He attended Okene Elementary and Middle Schools between 1926 and 1935. After which he went to Achimota College, Ghana where he studied and graduated in 1944 and proceeded to Balliol College Oxford, England where he bagged a degree in Politics and Economics in 1947.
He was the Nigeria’s first Head of Service and Secretary to the Federal Military Government during Yakubu Gowon’s regime. He died on June 12, 1972 at the Royal Free Hospital, London.
Dr Abdulmumini Atta
Dr. AbdulMumini Atta, the third child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was the second qualified medical doctor in Northern Nigeria.
Alh. Adamu Atta
Alh. Adamu Atta, the fourth child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was the first executive Governor of Kwara State during the second republic.
Born October 18, 1927 he attended Achimota School in Accra, Ghana where he bagged Bachelor of Laws Degree. He died on May 1, 2014 in Abuja.
Judith Sefi Atta
Judith Sefi Atta is the fifth child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and the first female Chief Education Officer of the Northern Nigeria. She was later appointed as the Nigeria Ambassador to Italy, first Minister of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs amongst other several achievements.
Alh. Aliyu Atta
Alh. Aliyu Atta is the sixth child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and former Inspector General of Police.
Born May 12, 1937, he grew up in the Palace of HRM Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta, Okene. He attended Okene Qura’anic school before the king sent him to his friend, the Emir of Kastina, HRM Muhammadu Dikko where he continued his education and later atteded Barewa College, Zaria.
He joined the Nigeria police in 1960 where he rose to the position of the Inspector General of Nigeria Police between 1985-1986.
HRM Dr Ado Ibrahim
HRM Ado Ibrahim is the seventh child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and the present Ohinoyi of Ebirland.
He was born February 7, 1929. Dr Ado Ibrahim started his education at the Okene Quranic School and later completed his Primary education at Native Education Authority, Okene, Kogi State in 1940.
HRM Dr Ado Ibrahim later went to Ondo Boys High School and Oduduwa College where he completed his secondary education in 1949.
He proceeded to London School of Economics where he graduated and bagged Bachelor Degree in Economics in 1954 and bagged his MBA from Havard Business School in 1959.
He ascended the throne of his father as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland on June 2, 1997 following the death of Ohinoyi Sani Omolori who ruled Ebiraland for 40 years.
The King’s palace, AZAD palace is said to be the most beautiful palace in West Africa. He currently rules Ebiraland from his magnificent AZAD palace.
He is the first Nigerian man to drill from Nigeria soil and became the pioneer of the business.
Alh. Mahmud Atta
Alh. Mahmud Atta is the eight child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Alh Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta. He was the Protocol Officer to
the Premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello and was later appointed as Chairman of First Bank Nigeria.
Mrs. Rekiya Atta Scott
Mrs. Rekiya Atta Scott, the 9th child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was the first qualified Nursing sister in the North
Alh. Abdullahi Atta
Alh. Abdullahi Atta was the first Nigerian Resident Ambassador to Cuba and was later appointed as the Nigerian Ambassador to Canada.
Alh. M.O Atta
Alh. M.O Atta, the eleventh child of the late Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is a prominent Business in Kaduna.
Alh. Idris Atta
Alh. Idris Atta, the 12th child of the late King is a former GM at Ajaokuta steel company.
The King is no doubt a hero to have raised children that have brought praise and honour to Ebiraland and Nigeria.
Culled from NigerianHistory
