A BRIEF HISTORY OF BASSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT KOGI STATE

BLGA MAP

A BRIEF HISTORY OF BASSA LOCAL GOVERNMENT KOGI STATE

By; DENWI, JOSHUA ADUNGA.

This may not be the whole story that makes up Bassa Local Government but there are elements here capable of inculcating one with the knowledge of what Bassa Local Government has come to be.

Bassa Local Government of Kogi State was created in 1976 from Benue State. It has a land mass of 1, 925km2 and a population of 139, 993 as of 2006 census. [1] and at 2022 projected to be 188,300. [2]
The postal code of the area is 272 [3]

Before the creation of Bassa Local Government there existed a Bassa Native Athority dated 1902. The Bassa Native Athority was created by colonial administration which began in 1900. The Bassa Native Athority was thereafter joined with the Igala Native Athority and later separated to become Bassa Local Government in 1976. [4]

The headquarters of Bassa Local Government is Oguma. The name Oguma was birthed as a result of the British inability to pronounce the name Ugwuma/Agwuma which is the actual and original name given to the settlement.
Ugwuma is made from grasses called ushɛrɛ. The ugwuma now in numbers (Agwuma) were used to make thatched houses. Hence, the early migrants name the settlement Agwuma.

Bassa Local Government is boarded to the North by River Benue. In the West by River Niger. To the East by Omala Local Government and to the South by Dekina Local Government. [1]

Bassa Local Government has three major tribes, Bassa (Kwomu) having the highest population, followed by Bassa Nge (Nupe) and the Egbura. Igala being the minority tribe.

The first migrants of the land (now Bassa Local Government and formally Bassa Native Athority or Bassa Province) were the Bassa (kwomu) people. They migrated to the land in 1830.
The Nupe Migrants (Bassa Nge) migrated in the year 1850. Their migration was due to the Jihadist war which broke out in their ancient land of Bida in present day Niger State. The Egbura people migrated to the land in 1860.

The Bassa (Kwomu) and Bassa Nge (Nupe) have nothing in common in relation to origin, language, culture and traditions. While the Bassa (kwomu) got their name from the phrase BASA HUŊ?, meaning WONT YOU BUY?. The Bassa Nge were believed to get their’s from the word BABOSSA which is best interpreted as FERTILE LAND OR SOIL. [5] Though some unverified myths believed they adopted the name in order to seek for asylum in the new found land (Bassa land).

NB: The suffix “kwomu” is only used or attached to the Bassa people of Bassa Local Government Area. Other Bassas in other states including those from Korto Karfe Local Government of Kogi State maintains “Bassa” without any prefix or suffix attached.

The traditional head of Bassa Local Government is the Aguma of Bassa who also doubles as the Chairman, Bassa Area Traditional Council. His stool is in the town of Oguma, the Local Government Headquarters. The present Aguma of Bassa is, HRM. Chief Williams Jimba Keke.
The Bassa Nge (Nupe) district or kingdom is headed by the Etsu Bassa Nge. The present Etsu of the Bassa Nge district or kingdom is, HRH Rtd. Brig. Gen. Abu Ali.
The Egbura district is headed by the Ohiogba of Mozum, HRH Alh. Khalid Ali Bukar.
Here are the names of the Agumas of Bassa from inception till date.
PRE-COLONIAL
HRM Gberigu Dangara
HRM Sokwo Kuruvwa

POST COLONIAL
HRM. Chief Joseph Dodo Alagani
HRM Chief Dr. Joseph Daku Kpongbo
HRM. Chief Jimba Williams Keke. (Present).

Here is the Bassa Local Government Council Succession of Chairmanship Record.

1. J.V Agelaga – Sole Administrator – Aug. 1976-April 1977 – Appointed on creation.
2. A.S Alafin – Chairman – Jan 1977-Sept 1979 – Elected
3. Alh I.A Aknya – Chairman – Dec 1979-Nov 1980 – Caretaker
4. D.D Jimba – Chairman – Nov 1980-Sept 1983 – Caretaker
5. A.I Edino – Sole Administrator – Sept 1983-Feb 1984 – Appointed
6. E.I KPAAPA – Sole Administrator – May 1984-June 1984 – Appointed
7. B.A Adole – Sole Administrator – May 1984-June 1984 – Appointed
8. J.I Udegha – Sole Administrator – June 1984-Aug 1985 – Appointed
9. D.A Adejoh – Sole Administrator – Aug 1985-Sept 1985 – Appointed
10. A.S Ikper – Sole Administrator – Sept 1985-Nov 1985 – Appointed
11. J.A Mongo – Sole Administrator – Nov 1985-Jan 1986 – Appointed
12. D.A Ambe – Sole Administrator – Jan 1986-March 1986 – Acting
13. J.A Nongo – Sole Administrator – March 1986-June 1986 – Appointed
14. Arch. N Muhammed – Sole Administrator – June 1986-Oct 1987 – Appointed
15. Arch. N Muhammed – Sole Administrator – Oct 1987-Jan 1988 – Appointed
16. Mall. A. Abubakar – Chairman – Jan 1988-July 1989 – Elected
17. Haruna E. Banke – Sole Administrator – July 1989-Feb 1990 – Appointed
18. Mall. Muhammed Dauda – Chairman – Jan 1990-Dec 1990 Appointed
19. Mr. Adama P. Dogwo – Chairman – Jan 1991-March 1992 – Elected
20. Mall. Umar Abdulmumuni – Chairman – March 1992-Nov 1993 – Elected
21. Mr. Solomon Adeyemi – Interim Head of L.G – Nov 1993-Apr 1994 – Appointed
22. Mr. Isaac R. Jimba – Chairman – Apr 1994-March 1996 – Elected
23. Mr. Emmanuel S. Adaku – Chairman – March 1996 – March 1997 – Elected
24. Mr. Jerry N. Daku – Chairman – March 1997-July 1998 – Elected
25. Mr. Philip S. Ochen – Sole Administrator – July 1998-May 1999 – Appointed
26. Comr. A.A Abdulkadir – Chairman – June 1999-Mrch 2001 – Elected
27. Mr. Paul Z. Maiwada – Chairman March 2002-June 2003 – Appointed
28. Mall. S.E Yahaya – D.L.G & HOS – June 2003-Aug 2003 – Appointed
29. Mr. Luke Y. Shigaba – Chairman – Aug 2003-Feb 2004 – Appointed
30. Mr. Mathew B. Jere – Chairman Feb 2004-Dec 2004 – Appointed
31. Hon. Bako Shigaba – Chairman – Dec 2004-Oct 2005 – Elected
32. Hon. Yakubu I. Musa – Chairman – Oct 2005-Jan 2007 – Elected
33. Mr. Sunday Shigaba – Chairman – Jan 2007-Oct 2007 – Caretaker
34. Alh. Iman S. Shaibu – Chairman – Oct 2007- Jan 2008 – Caretaker
35. Hon. Tim Nda Diche – Chairman – Jan 2008-July 2008 – Caretaker
36. Musa D. Gwatana – Chairman – July 2008-June 2011 – Elected
37. Alh. MUKTAR SHUAIBU – Chairman – June 2011-July 2011 – Elected
38. Alh. Ahmed Shaibu O. – HOC BA – July 2011-June 2012 – Appointed
39. Hon. Umar Maigida I. – Chairman – June 2012-May 2013 – Appointed
40. Hon. Umar Maigida I. – Chairman – May 2013-May 2016 – Elected
41. Hon. Samuel Zakari – Administrator – May 2016-March 2020 – Appointed
42. Mr. Ditse Solomon – D.L.G March 2020- Appointed
43. Alh. MUKTAR SHUAIBU – Chairman
44. Hon. Theophilus Adama Daruwana – Chairman – January 2024 – Appointed

Bassa Local Government has three districts with ten Political Wards. The Bassa (Kwomu) has five wards which are; Akuba I, Akuba II, Akakana/Ayede, Ozungulo and Ikende Wards. The Bassa Nge district has three wards which are; Gboloko, Kpata and Eforo Wards. While the Egburas/Mozum district has two wards which are; Mozum and Uzugbe/Ozugbe Wards.

Here are some of the notable towns in Bassa Local Government Area

From the Bassa (kwomu) axis; Oguma (the local government headquarters), Sheria, (the commercial town of the local government), Dagba, Eyede, Gbashikere, Akakana, Paruwa, Kpanche, Ikende, Kpokudu, Zenyi, Wussa, Inigwi, Zharikama, Edenyi, Ogodo, Orokwo, Udogbo.

From the Bassa Nge axis; Gboloko (the headquarters of Bassa Nge kingdom), Kpata, Eforo, Shitankwo, Emi Guni, Adum Woiwoi, Emi Audu, Ajigido, Emi Ampamo, Elule, Emi Adama.

From the Egbura axis; Mozum (headquarters of Mozum Kingdom), Ugba, Biroko, Tekureje, Ozugbe, Dakwu Domozu.

Bassa Local Government is known as the Agricultural hub of Kogi State or the food Basket of Kogi State due to its huge agricultural produce year by year. Some of the Agricultural products from Bassa Local Government are, Yam, Cassava, Rice, Guinea Corn, Millet, Bene Seed, Groundnut, Soya Beans e.t.c. [6]
Economic trees in Bassa Local Government include Kola Nut, Irvingia Gabonensis (Ogbono), Mahogany, Cashew, Mango, Orange, Banana, Plantains e.t.c.

Bassa Local Government also have numerous fish ponds and rivers for fishing activities. Minya, Uda mane, Iteme are found in Gbashikere, Rivine and Ujo in Bassa (kwomu district).
Others are Emako, Kpekpete, Yontsu which are found in the Bassa Nge District.

Some of the natural resources found in Bassa Local Government are Petroleum/Natural Gas, Clay, Iron Ore, Salt and Gypsum.

Bassa Local Government is blessed with both human and natural resources.

Denwi, Joshua Adunga
09076728898
Denwiadungajoshua@gmail.com

Reference

1. http://www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
2. citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
3. “Post Offices- with map of LGA”. NIPOST. Archived from the original on 7 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
4. http://www.nigeria-law.org > LawReporting
5. http://www.bassangecommunityna.org
6. ageconsearch.umn.edu