The Ukhomuyio Concerned Citizens have commended Barrister Mutairu Aliu for believing that political solutions remain the most effective approach to addressing what they described as the blatant disregard for Okpella’s customs and traditions.
According to the group, Aliu’s conviction was among the reasons he chose to abstain from court proceedings in the matter, a case that was eventually struck out due to lack of appearance.
The group noted that past government interventions in resolving disputes within traditional institutions that conflict with community customs demonstrate that political solutions remain one of the fastest ways to correct such anomalies. They stressed the need for the Okpella traditional stool issue to be addressed through due diligence and decisive government intervention.
The Ukhomuyio Concerned Citizens also reiterated that it is the people of Ukhomuyio who must produce the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, insisting that the selection process must strictly follow the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979. They maintained that the process is not open to negotiation because it is protected by both Okpella tradition and the law.
They added that correcting any irregularities in the process is necessary to safeguard the future of generations yet unborn and to ensure peaceful coexistence within the community.
The group further stated that mistakes can occur but correcting them demonstrates strength. They cited the example of the current governor’s emergence, noting that the APC primaries that produced him were conducted twice to correct earlier inaccuracies.
Consequently, the group called on the governor to intervene and correct what it described as the injustice that led to the emergence of Mike Sado as the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, insisting that the process violated the traditions of the community.
They also alleged that Sado is currently exploiting the community for personal gain, claiming that within the last 14 days he illegally received the 2025 BUA’s Community Development Sovereign Grant of ₦200 million into his personal account despite court order and the Mining Act.
According to the group, a traditional ruler should serve as a role model and an ambassador for the community, embodying tolerance and respect for the rule of law. However, they alleged that the individual imposed on the community has instead been involved in acts of intimidation against subjects and disobedience of court orders, including the alleged illegal turbaning of a community member despite a subsisting order for parties in the suit to maintain the status quo.
The group urged members of the community to remain calm and prayerful, expressing confidence that justice would prevail despite the challenges.
They also prayed that God would answer the prayers of both Muslim and Christian faithful currently observing their fasting periods.
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