Unprecedented crowd recently converged at Shafan Kwatto in Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State to celebrate the 55th year of His Royal Highness, Alhaji Usman Baba, on the throne as Ogwu of Shafan Kwatto, the longest serving traditional ruler in the state.

Speaking at the occasion, the Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmadu Ogah, said the progress of any society depended on prevalence of peace. Represented by the Sarduana Doma, Alhaji Musa Adra, the traditional ruler commended the Ogwu of Shafan Kwatto for maintaining peace within his domain.

"Your peaceful nature is responsible for your long years on the throne, as the Ogwu of Shaffan Kwatto and this has made your community a peaceful one," Andoma added.

The Andoma then called on the entire people of Toto Local Government Area to live in peace with one another for the progress of the area.

The royal father of the day, the Ohimege Opanda, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, commended the Ogwu for being an apostle of peace even before ascending the throne 55 years ago.

The Ohimege who was represented by one of his council members, said "the name Alhaji Usman Baba (Ogwu) was synonymous to peace. When we talk of peace the name "Alhaji Usman Baba would be written with golden pen in the Guinness Book of Record".

The traditional ruler then called on the younger generation to emulate the virtues of Ogwu who he described as "the messenger of peace and love, and an icon of our time".

Earlier in his address, the chairman of the Shafan Kwato Development Association, Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Bingila, described the paramount ruler as an icon and a legend who has worked tirelessly to ensure peaceful co-existence among his people and also instrumental to the socio-political, economic and cultural development of the people of Shafan Kwatto.

Engineer Bingila also enumerated the achievements of the paramount ruler to include promotion of education among his people, agriculture and the establishment of the first community primary school at Shafan Kwatto in 1968, among others.

"He is a great social mobilizer of our time. He is an embodiment of knowledge with high retentive memory of oral tradition and history. Prior to the upgrading of chiefdoms, Ogwu was the chief spokesman of the entire Egbura race in the present Toto Local Government. His oral revelations were always relied on to adjudicate on controversial issues involving his people and among other contemporary communities. His sincerity coupled with sound delivery of oral traditions have been well acclaimed by all and sundry," Engineer Bingila said.

Thirteen illustrious sons and daughters of the area were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the development of Toto Local Government. Among them were Justice Suleiman Galadima of the Federal Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt and his wife, Mrs. Mary Galadima. Two people each from the Bassa, Gbagyi, Hausa, Nupe and one person from Igbo communities were also honoured, while seven outstanding sons of Shafan Kwatto were coronated with various traditional titles.

Alhaji Usman Baba ascended the throne of his forefathers on the 14th August, 1953 at the age of 35 years. He is the 11th Ogwu of Shafan Kwatto and the 6th from the Onyohu ruling house.