The President of Kogi state Traditional Council and Attah of Igala, His Royal Majesty Alhaji ( Dr) Aliyu Obaje is dead.
The late monarch who died at the age of 102, ascended the throne on 2nd November, 1956 as the 26th Attah of Igala succeeding late Attah Ameh Oboni.
He reigned from 1956 to 2012, making him the longest serving traditional ruler in the country. Until his death; Dr. Aliyu was the Chancellor of University of Lagos.
The Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada in a statement said “the Kogi State Government announces with a deep sense of loss, the death of Dr. Aliyu Ocheja Obaje, CFR, the Attah of Igala and Chairman Kogi State Traditional Council, who died in the afternoon of July 16, 2012, at the age of 102.”
The Kogi State Paramount Ruler was appointed Chairman of the Kogi State Traditional Council in 1992. Until his death, he was the longest reigning First Class Traditional Ruler in Nigeria.
The late Attah of Igala was appointed a Minister without Portfolio by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello. He was also a member of two Constitutional Conferences in London in the build-up to Nigeria’s independence.
He is survived by his wives and many children.
The Kogi State Government is finalising burial arrangements with the family.