Origin of the Eggon Centralized Traditional Chieftaincy Institution

David Umbugala

doi:10.46422/jhss.v12i2.188

Abstract

Culture is the totality of what a people are and what they believe. Any society, therefore, that undermines its culture touches the very soul of their existence. To this extent, culture must be invigorated from one generation to the other to avoid extinction. The Eggon nation from the beginning been endowed with very rich Mythical history but over the years, there have been a tendency to lose all of it at the altar of modernity. Several Scholars have made attempts to rediscover, express and promote the culture of the Eggon people as embodied in its language, customs and Costumes but in piecemeal or fragmented manner, which have not produced the desired intention. This effort is to harmonize together a document that will go a long way to provide the present and future generations specifically, a chronological history of ‘The Origin of the Eggon Centralized Traditional Chieftaincy Institution’. This effort is also timely in view of the fact that many of our Older Generations are passing away when our ancient customs and traditions have not been properly documented. Cultural rediscovery and revival among our people has also become very important today in view of the massive cross cultural interactions taking place among Eggon and other ethnic nationalities which is gradually adulterating our values and language. An ethnic group that yields to this pressure easily loses its cultural heritage and by so doing, its identity. This ugly trend must be resisted by Eggon sons and daughters living today in order to reposition Eggon people for a greater tomorrow. The Eggon people are domiciled and indigenous to; and are the predominant tribe in Nasarawa state. They are found in all the Local Government Areas of the State in a sizeable population. Nasarawa state is located at the central part of Nigeria otherwise known as North-Central Nigeria. The Eggon people are also settled in different parts of Nigeria and overseas. They are mostly agrarian, and few decades ago went into trading, business and have great passion for Western education.

Highlights

Some school of thoughts have it that Eggon ancestors sojourned through or from Ngazargamu in the present day Borno State of Nigeria and moved away, and were part of the Kwararafa kingdom
The Eggon „recognized‟ centralized traditional system has undergone some few reforms - from direct appointment of a traditional leader by the British Colonial administrative officer to the democratic system of selection which first commenced from 8 May 1981
Before the Eggon centralize traditional institution was put in place by the British administration in 1919, the Eggon had a long history of well-structured autonomous 'clans‟ and traditional system called Adang-Ashmu

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Alhaji Abdullahi Idde from the Anzo sub-ethnic group and a primary school leaver, an accountant, and outspoken man with good leadership qualities won the support of the British administration, and on 2 October 1953, appointed and became the third indigenous leader of Eggon as Aren Eggon He ruled for 28 years and died on 6 May1981. In the case of up to third tie, the Presiding Officer shall forthwith decide between the candidates with the largest and equal number of votes by lot, and the candidate on whom the lot falls shall be deemed to be selected to be Aren Eggon subject to the approval of the Governor after consultation with the Council of Chiefs. The gazette further states that the Presiding Officer shall communicate the result of the election in writing within two days of such selection to the Governor for approval.9 This is a concise process of the selection of Aren Eggon.

October 1953 - 1981

CONCLUSION