Commentary

New Osu Ajiri And The Task Ahead

On 15th April 2026, the Nasarawa State Government finally named Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed Eko as the 4th Osu Ajiri of Edegye Chiefdom, in Nasarawa Local Government of Nasarawa State. The first-class stool had been vacant for almost one year since the demise of Alhaji Halilu Bala Usman, the 3rd Osu Ajiri, who died on 25th May 2025.

Besides the contentious undercurrents that defined the selection process and the eventual announcement, the emergence of Alhaji Eko aligns with the agitations of the Eloyi/Afo people for an Osu Ajiri who is grounded both linguistically and culturally, and who is also in tune with current realities, especially in terms of engaging the largely youthful Eloyi population, both online and offline.

Unlike his predecessor, Prince Eko’s ancestry is not complicated and does not require any serious investigation to unravel. Born in June, 2 1972, Eko is from Agbazo, in Odu District of Udege Development Area. His father currently holds a traditional title in Agbazo. HRH Eko attended foundation schools in the village before proceeding to the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

Yet, beyond the fanfare, I do not envy the job Prince Eko has sought and got. He is coming to the over 40-year-old throne at a time the chiefdom is facing some of the worst challenges in its history.

From the disaffection and mutual distrust that still linger among the Eloyi/Afo people following the fratricidal clash last year that claimed many lives, to the ever-present battle between our people and the aggressive mining empire threatening to swallow the land while leaving a trail of negative consequences; from the recent violent attacks visited on the people by terrorists to the persistent farmer-herder clashes that have forced many to abandon farming, the occupation of our forebears; the new monarch clearly has his hands full.

He will be expected to earn his keep by navigating this delicate climate, with his immediate task being the unification of our people. He will also be expected to find a way of engaging the mining companies currently feasting on our land, to extract concessions that can transform the current hostile relationship into something beneficial for the chiefdom.

This part will be most delicate. He will need to expertly navigate competing interests, especially those that involve government and the mining companies themselves, and somehow convince them to concede ground, the proceeds of which should go into developing the chiefdom. That is as herculean a task as can be envisaged.

HRH will then be expected to bring our people to the table and get them to engage in honest conversations about how to bury the hatchet. Considering our shared history, this may seem simple on the surface, but knowing how proud our people naturally are, it could well prove to be the most difficult of all the challenges before him.

Then, we must confront the existential threats posed by herders. There is hardly a year that passes without our people losing their lives and crops to violent encounters with killer herders. The killings have become so routine that the leadership of the Fulani community no longer treats complaints from our people with the seriousness they deserve. This must change. If justice cannot be guaranteed when crimes are committed, we should not be surprised when some begin to consider self-help.

However, one of the most urgent tasks before Prince Eko is the nativisation of the Osu Ajiri palace. For so long, but most especially during the reign of his immediate predecessor, the palace has been deliberately tilted towards Hausacentrism. Court proceedings are conducted in Hausa, titles are rendered in Hausa, and even the architectural expression of the palace reflects a Hausa emirate identity. A visitor could easily assume they were in a typical emirate setting somewhere in Daura.

But he doesn't have to do it alone. Many individuals, many of whom contested the throne with him, as well as existing institutions will be invaluable in this respect. Part of the institutions that can support the new monarch in achieving this cultural rebalancing is the Omadegye Cultural and Development Club (OCDA). The resuscitation of OCDA must, therefore, be top of his agenda. There are also newer groups such as the Afo Heritage Think Tank Initiative (AHTTI) which is yet to truly come to the party, but has within its ranks, most of the reverred sons and daughters of our land, and the Afo Youth Mentorship Initiative (AYMi), a youth-led movement already stepping into the gap left by OCDA.

Ultimately, Your Highness must find a way to revive the annual Omadegye Cultural celebration. This flagship event has, over the years, served as a rallying point for our people, offering them a safe space to exchange ideas, critique one another constructively, and celebrate our shared cultural heritage.

The list may seem long, but it is by no means exhaustive. However, I am certain that Your Highness fully appreciates the enormity of the task ahead, even before stepping into the arena. Unfortunately, it can only get harder from here. That is why I said earlier that I do not envy you.

Yet, I hold firmly to the belief that our ancestors who settled on you as Osu Ajiri will guide your hand as you strive to deliver on this cultural, traditional, and yet unmistakably modern mandate.

Yahaya Kana Ismaila writes from Kana, Nasarawa State.