Nigerian Newsday

The Osana of Keana’s Palace was all pomp and pageantry, penultimate week. The occasion was the official installation and presentation of first class of office to the 33rd Osana of Keana, Senator Onyatikpo Elayo (OON), which was performed by Alhaji (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu.

By the morning of the day of the ceremony, the Osana’s palace was decorated with canopies while traditional musicians and dancers took up strategic positions within the palace for the grand ceremony.

Flashy cars and buses were seen streaming into the Osana’s palace as early as 9am in the morning. The presence of all the classes of traditional chiefs in Nasarawa State, the Osana’s in-laws and the state cultural troupe blended to add colour and glamour to the occasion.

The arrival of his Lordship, the Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Rev. Ishaya Audu, set the installation in motion with prayers. Bishop Ishaya Audu urged the Osana of Keana to be faithful and steadfast in the pursuit of peace and progress for his people and the nation. He said that he was chosen by his people because of his commitment to the progress of humanity.

His Royal Highness, the Osana of Keana danced majestically as the executive governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu conferred the mantle of leadership on him as the 33rd Osana of Keana. The Osana then promised to continue with his good work in serving humanity.

The Royal Father also pledged to use his wealth of experience to provide the enabling environment for private investment and sustenance of government policies and programmes, adding that he mobilise and enlighten his subjects towards development of the area.

Some of the guests at the occasion paid glowing tributes to the new Osana of Keana. The Aren Eggon, HRH Mr. Bala Abaine Angbazo said he is a man who has a long relationship with progress and development of the state. The Aren Eggon said that the Osana deserves to wear the crown.

The Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Dr. Isa Mustapha Agwai I, said the Osana has been a hard working and successful man maintaining that he is a big hearted man who has touched many people’s lives.

The president, Igbo Cultural Association, Nasarawa State chapter, Chief Joseph Ngueze described the Osana of Keana as a religious, intelligent and straight forward man who is generous. In his words "I have never heard anybody said anything bad about him. He is understanding, helpful, amiable, caring and always reaching out to help people especially those in dire need."

In his speech, the governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, said that the selection of Senator Elayo as Osana of Keana was done without any rancour, adding that this was a testimony of the popularity and acceptability of the new Osana by his subjects.

Governor Adamu continued "it is our prayer that your reign will bring peace, economic and social prosperity to the people of the chiefdom." He then prayed God to give the Osana abundant wisdom to rule his people well.

Governor Adamu also assured the Osana of Keana that his administration was ever ready to share his hopes and aspirations, dreams and visions for a greater Keana chiefdom.

The presence of retired military officers in the persons of Domkat Bali, John Shagaya, Jonah Jang, Lawrence Onoja, forner deputy governor of Nasarawa State, Prof. Onje Gye Wado, Benue State governor, George Akume and his deputy, senators, ministers, traditional rulers from Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states and other international guests at the occasion clearly indicated that the new Osana of Keana is "a man of the people."

The 33rd Osana of Keana, Senator Emmanuel Oyatikpo Elayo, OON, KSM, was born in Keana on 19th February, 1932 to the Osheka family of Ogwu of Keana.

He started his primary school in 1940 at Keana and later moved to Udei, Alagoni and completed in 1950 in Shendam.

He attended the college of Mary Immaculate (CMI), Kafanchan, between 1951–1958 for his grade III and II teachers certificate.

At the age of 26, Senator Elayo was at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, where he studied public administration at diploma level, 1966–1967. At different times he was a headmaster of Catholic mission schools at Kwa in Quaan Pan, Plateau State, 1954–1956, RCM Shendam, 1959–1960, and RCM school, Nasarawa Eggon, 1961.

When the drumbeats of politics of the first republic rolled young Elayo at the age of 29 was called by Alago people to serve as councilor for education, 1964–1967, in Lafia native.

He also held positive such as personnel manager in the Northen Nigeria Fibre Products Company (NNFPC) Ltd, manager, Benue-Plateau Public Service Commissioner, chairman of State relevant Technology and chairman, Plateau Publishing Corporation and later Group Administration, manager of Nasrudeen Group of Companies (NASCO).

In the second republic, Elayo eyed the government House Rayfield in the then Plateau State but was later appointed commissioner for Finance by the then governor, Chief Solomon Lar in October, 1979 to December, 1983.

The new Osana of Keana was instrumental to the completion of the edifice, the Joseph Gomwalk 10 storey building.

In 1993 under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) he contested and won election to represent the then Plateau West Senatorial seat but the life span of that administration was cut short by late General Sani Abacha in 1993.

Senator Elayo was among the leading elders that fought for the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996. Following the lifting of ban on partisan politics in 1996, Senator Elayo became a founding member of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) and its pioneer chairman in Nasarawa State. He was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).