Nupe People Denounce “Etsu Nupe” Title in Lokoja
THE leaders and elders of Nupe in Lokoja under the auspices of Lokoja Indigenous Peoples’ Union has denounced the traditional title of “Etsu Lokoja or Etsu Nupe Lokoja; stressing that such title does not exist in the community.
Addressing Newsmen on Thursday, the group challenged their kinsman, Mr. Emmanuel Dauda Shelika, asking him to stop parading himself with the title “Etsu Lokoja or Etsu Nupe Lokoja”, as such was strange to their existence.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Chief Aliu Lawal, who is the Mayaki of Lokoja stressed that such self appointment by Shelika will only endangered the peaceful coexistence of the people with other ethnic group in the state.
“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 Holding at Koton Karfe, all the way through the Court of Appeal, Abuja to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“Mr Emmanuel Shellka 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.
“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 Hote! 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 hoodlums. 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.
“In view of the above, we wish to state categorically that: 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 also 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.”
The group however called on the state government to implement the court judgment which ruled against such title of Etsu Nupe in Lokoja.
Recalled that Mr Emmanuel Dauda Shelika had last December refered to himself as Etsu Nupe Lokoja and has proceeded to organize “Nupe Day” in Lokoja; which was stopped by security operatives.
Shelika also asked the State government to recognize them (Nupe) as the earlier settlers in Lokoja as well as grade their ‘existing stool of the Etsu Lokoja.
