Attah Ameh Oboni, the highly respected traditional leader, assumed the throne of Igala land on May 1, 1945. His reign was remarkable and more significant than any of his predecessors, with the exception of Ayegba Om’Idoko, the esteemed ancient ruler of Igala land who fought for the independence of his Kingdom.
Born in 1911, Attah Oboni was the sole offspring of his mother, Alami Inedu, a native of Itobe who was wedded to three consecutive rulers. Unfortunately, his father passed away shortly after his birth.
Despite his limited formal education, Attah Oboni championed the development of education, infrastructure, basic amenities, and social intervention programs that improved the quality of life for vulnerable people in Igala.
His Royal Highness was revered by his people as a powerful ruler who carried an aura of mystery. According to folklore, his prophetic utterances always came to pass. However, historians and future generations are not only fascinated by the myths that surrounded his reign but also by his defiance of the Queen of England. When asked by the council of rulers to violate the taboos of his throne, he refused to comply.
In Igala culture, it was considered an abomination for any ruler to lay eyes on a corpse or an infant less than three months old. Additionally, it was forbidden for a ruler to shake hands with a woman or remove his cap in public. Despite these customs, Attah Oboni was asked to violate the latter two taboos when he met the Queen of England at a meeting held in Kaduna.
The paramount rulers present at the meeting pressured him to remove his cap before greeting the Queen, which had been done by others before him. To make matters worse, they also demanded that he shake the Queen’s hand after removing his cap. When he refused to compromise his beliefs, he was threatened with expulsion from the meeting.
Attah Oboni signaled the council of rulers that their actions could bring about calamity, and in an attempt to lift his cap, he inadvertently caused a swarm of bees to flood the meeting hall. This created chaos, and the handlers of the Queen quickly removed her from the scene. Historians are intrigued by this event, as it not only defied long-standing customs but also demonstrated Attah Oboni’s unwavering commitment to his beliefs.
The Oba of Benin was the only ruler allowed to remain in the meeting hall, while the Igala ruler was arrested by the authorities after he refused to compromise his beliefs. However, according to oral tradition, the handcuffs mysteriously fell off his hands soon after he was taken into custody. Despite this supernatural display, his fellow traditional rulers kept him hostage, angering him and leading to his escape from custody without explanation. This embarrassing incident gave the Queen and the rulers of the Northern Kingdom of Nigeria the impetus to conspire to overthrow him.
As a result, Attah Oboni was eventually dethroned, but not without consequences. Those responsible for his removal from power suffered the curse he pronounced before he took his own life, which stated that Igala land would only be reunified when a son from his lineage ascended the throne. Igala festivals were prohibited for over 60 years until Governor Yahaya Bello lifted the ban at the request of the Attah Igala.