Idakwo Ameh Oboni II
{{Short description|Àtá of Igala (1948–2020)}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Àtá Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II
| title = His Royal Majesty{{cite news|url=https://dailytrust.com/attah-igala-invokes-curse-on-perpetrators-sponsors-of-political-violence/|title=Attah Igala Invokes Curse on Perpetrators, Sponsors of Political Violence|date=2 March 2019|last=Sule|first=Itodo Daniel|publisher=Daily Trust|location=Lokoja|access-date=27 March 2023}}
| image =
| caption =
| succession = Monarch of Igala Kingdom
| moretext = Àtá Ígáláà
| coronation =
| cor-type =
| reign-type = In office
| reign = 10 March 2013 – {{nowrap|27 August 2020}}
| predecessor = Attah Aliyu Ocheja Obaje
| successor = Attah Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa II
| reg-type =
| regent =
| birth_date = 1948
| birth_place = Idah, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2020|8|27|1948}}
| death_place = Abuja, Nigeria
| burial_place = Idah, Nigeria
| spouse =
| issue =
| house = Òhíémi Ọ̀bọgọ(Aju Òcholi)
| father = Àtá Àámẹ́ẹ̀ Óbòní I
| full name = Ìdákwó Ọm Àámẹ́-Óbòní
| mother =
| religion = Christianity
| occupation = • Military officer
• Civil servant
• Àtá Ígáláà
| signature =
}}
Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II ({{Audio|Yo-Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni.oga|listen|help=no}}) (1948 – 27 August 2020){{cite news|title=Attah of Igala,Dr.Aliyu Obaje is dead|url=http://newsdiaryonline.com/attah-of-igaladr-aliyu-obaje-is-dead/|accessdate=11 October 2013|newspaper=Newsdiaryonline|date=16 July 2012}} was the 27th Àtá Ígálá (paramount ruler) of the Igala Kingdom in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/411505-buhari-mourns-attah-igala-michael-oboni-ii.html |title=Buhari mourns Attah Igala, Michael Oboni II |date=30 August 2020 |publisher=Premium Times Nigeria |access-date=25 September 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.blueprint.ng/breaking-in-kogi-attah-of-igala-is-dead/ |last=Moribirin |first=Rosemary |title= Breaking: In Kogi, Attah of Igala is dead |date=27 August 2020 |publisher=Blueprint |access-date=25 September 2020}}
Life and education
Oboni II was born in 1948. In 1960, he completed his primary school education at Saint Boniface in Idah. He then advanced to Saint Augustine College, Kabba, where he graduated in 1967. He proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic afterwards and graduated with a certificate in Estate Management in 1980.{{Cite web |url=https://www.thecable.ng/ameh-attah-igala-dies-during-operation-in-abuja |title=Ameh, Attah Igala, dies during operation in Abuja |date=27 August 2020 |publisher=The Cable |access-date=25 September 2020}}
Working career
He then joined the Nigerian Air Force in 1968 and voluntarily left service in 1974. He later worked as land inspection officer in the Ministry of Lands in the then old Kwara State and left in 1975 in pursuit of education. In 1981, he joined the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and over the years, rose to the position of deputy director, retiring in 2006.
Kingship
After the demise of the 26th Àtá Igala Àtá Àlíì Ọ̀chẹ́ja Òtúlúkpé Ọ̀bàje in 2012,{{Cite web |date=2012-07-17 |title=Attah Igala, Aliyu Obaje dies at 102 {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/93511-attah_igala_aliyu_obaje_dies.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |language=en-GB}} Àámẹ́ was unanimously selected by the four ruling houses in Anẹ Ígálá as successor to the throne. His nomination was forwarded to the Nine (9) Igalamela Kingmakers as part of the traditional process. The Kingmakers endorsed his nomination for onward transmission to the Achadu oko-Ata (Igala Kingdom Prime Minister).{{Cite web |date=2020-11-15 |title=Intrigues as race for Attah Igala stool heats up |url=https://dailytrust.com/intrigues-as-race-for-attah-igala-stool-heats-up |access-date=2022-09-18 |publisher=Daily Trust |language=en}} His endorsement by the Igala Prime Minister was forwarded to the Kogi State Traditional Council and finally approved by kogi State Governor Capt Idris Ichala Wada.{{Cite journal |last=Ottah |first=Gabriel Alhassan |date=2015-10-27 |title=African Culture and Communication Systems in the Coronation of Ata Igala, North- Central Nigeria |url=https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ijah/article/view/124702 |journal=AFRREV IJAH: An International Journal of Arts and Humanities |language=en |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=208–228 |doi=10.4314/ijah.v4i3.18 |issn=2227-5452|doi-access=free }} He confessed to be the first Ata to be married to a single wife in the history of Igala land.
With the coming of the Buhari administration in Nigeria, HRM Ameh Oboni II in 2016 in Idah, during the celebration of his third anniversary on the throne, tasked the president "to begin his change mantra in Kogi State".{{Cite web |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201603300865.html |last=Sule |first=Itodo Daniel |title=Nigeria: Attah Igala Tasks Buhari on Change Mantra |date=30 March 2016 |website=All Africa |publisher=Daily Trust (Abuja)| access-date=25 September 2020}}
After the 2019 electoral polls ensued by violence, the Àtá Ígálá placed ancestral curse on those who perpetrated those electoral violent acts in the state.{{Cite web |url= https://m.guardian.ng/tag/dr-michael-idakwo-ameh-oboni-11/ |title=Dr Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni 11 Attah Igala places ancestral curse on perpetrators of electoral violence |date=3 March 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 September 2020}}
Legacy
He was described as a man of peace and one who gave wise counsels and with a reputation for honesty. His son, Prince Ocholi Idakwo described him as "a man of action and one who was passionate about upholding the rich culture of Igala".{{Cite web |url=https://dailytrust.com/buhari-late-attah-igala-ameh-oboni-ii-was-a-man-of-peace |last=Olaniyi |first=Muideen |title=Buhari: Late Attah Igala, Ameh Oboni II, Was A Man of Peace |publisher=Daily Trust |date=29 August 2020 |access-date=25 September 2020}}
Demise
He reportedly died on Thursday morning on 27 August 2020 after a brief reign of about eight years, which began after the death of his predecessor who reigned for 52 years.{{Cite web |url=https://kaftanpost.com/attah-of-igala-idakwo-ameh-oboni-ii-has-passed-away/ |title=Attah of Igala, Idakwo Ameh Oboni II, passes away |publisher=KAFTANPost |date= 27 August 2020 |access-date=25 September 2020}} Oboni II died in an Abuja hospital after undergoing an unsuccessful pile operation.
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Nigerian traditional rulers
Category:People from Kogi State
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