By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia
Former Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, has felicitated with the Ohimege Opanda, Umaisha, HRH Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, as the revered first-class traditional ruler marks his 82nd birthday.
In a statement personally signed and made available to journalists in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, Balarabe Abdullahi described the reign of the monarch as peaceful, purposeful, developmental and rewarding, noting that it has remained worthy of celebration and emulation.
The former Speaker, who holds the traditional title of Wali Opanda, praised the Ohimege Opanda as an exemplary leader, a symbol of unity and a father to all, irrespective of religion, tribe or ethnic background.
“As the First-Class Traditional Ruler of the Egbira people in Nasarawa State, HRH Alh. Usman Abdullahi has continued to provide purposeful leadership anchored on peace, unity and progress,” Balarabe stated.
He offered prayers for the monarch’s long life, sound health and sustained wisdom, as he continues to pilot the affairs of the Opanda Kingdom and the revered seat of his forefathers.
According to the statement, the Ohimege Opanda was born on January 4, 1944, into the Opanda royal lineage as a great-grandson of Ohimege Negedu, the founder of the Opanda Dynasty.
“He acquired both Islamic and Western education and served meritoriously in the public and private sectors, rising to the rank of Permanent Secretary before his appointment as Commissioner for Health in the then Plateau State,” the statement recalled.
It added that HRH Usman Abdullahi was serving as Commissioner before his selection as the 28th Ohimege Opanda on June 21, 1995.
Balarabe Abdullahi further noted the historical significance surrounding the monarch’s ascension, stating that heavy rainfall on the day of his coronation was widely believed to symbolize divine blessings and a smooth path to the throne.
“Today, Your Royal Highness has ruled our people for nearly three decades, emerging as the longest-serving Ohimege Opanda in the history of the kingdom, waxing stronger in the glory of Almighty Allah,” the statement stressed.
Describing the monarch as a pillar of hope and custodian of peace, the former Speaker called on the people of Opanda Kingdom and beyond to rally round the traditional ruler with prayers and unwavering support.
“On behalf of my family and the people of Umaisha and Opanda Kingdom, I congratulate HRH Alh. Usman Abdullahi, the Ohimege Opanda and President, Toto Local Government Traditional Council of Chiefs, on the occasion of his 82nd birthday,” he said.
Balarabe Abdullahi, who currently serves as Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, urged all sons and daughters of the kingdom to sustain unity and cooperation to consolidate on the solid foundation already laid by the monarch for enduring peace and development.
