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His Royal Majesty, Senator (Sir) EMMANUEL ONYATIKPO ELAYO, OON, KSM, FICEN, the 33rd Osana of Keana and President Keana LGC Traditional Council was born on the 17th of February, 1932. His father Elayo Osheka, the first son of the 28th Osana of Keana, Osheka Ozegya.
A cherished husbad, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Senator Emmanuel Elayo was a devout Christian, professional teacher, Middle Belt crusader, impactful politician, diligent public servant, renowned administrator, development activist, a leader of men, successful farmer and selfless philanthropist.
Hand-picked, groomed and mentored by Roman Catholic Missionaries, Emmanuel Elayo became one of the earliest converts to Christianity, and a worthy role model for his generation in Keana and the Middle Belt region of Nigeria. As a devout catholic, he was a Knight of St. Mulumba (KSM) since 1976.
HRH Emmanuel Onyatikkpo Elayo started his primary school in 1940 at Keana and later moved to Udei, Alagoni and completed in 1950 in Shendam. He attended the prestigious College of Mary Immaculate (CMI), Kafanchan, from 1951-1958 for his grade III and II Teacher’s Certificate.
At the age of 26, Senator Elayo was at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, where he obtained Diploma in Public Administration in 1967. As was his character, HRH Elayo not only sought education for himself, but championed the cause for all other Keana’s children to acquire the then unfamiliar western education. This decision led him to being his public servant career on a humble note, sticking to the noble profession of teaching. 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 the Alago people to serve as a counselor for education from 1964-1967 in Lafia Native Authority from 1962-1967.
Limited; and Adviser on Management of Men and Materials (positions he held until his passing).
In politics, HRH Senator Emmanuel Elayo had local, state, regional and national presence, performance and impact. The first military Governor of the newly created Benue-Plateau State, J.D Gomwalk, had cause to appoint him as a member of the Benue-Plateau State Public Sevice Commision from 1968-1975.
HRH Emmanuel Elayo at various times also served in several capacities, including;
A visionary and selfless politician, Senator Elayo was a founders-class member of the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP), under the revered Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. In the Executive Branch, Emmanuel Elayo was a prominent member and key architect of the Emancipation Programme of the celebrated Chief Solomon Lar Government in the old Plateau State (1979-1983), where he served as Commissioner for Finance & Chairman State Tenders Board from 1979-1983, and Commissioner for Trade and Industries in 1983 until the military invention in December 1983.
Senator Elayo was among the leading elders that fought for the creation of Nasarawa State in 1996. And following the lifting of the 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. His democratic credentials were at play as a strong anti-military rule crusader/activist during the iconic NADECO struggle to enthrone democracy. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), under the astute Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. He was also elected Senator of the Federal Republic in 1993 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), representing Plateau West Senatorial Seat (present day Nasarawa State). He would later become a pioneer member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), rising to serve on the highest decision-making body of the party as a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) from 2000-2003, when he retired from active politics.
For Keana and the Alago Nation, this son of culture, tradition and stickler for justice joined his compatriots to fight for the upgrade of the Osana Stool, and the creation of both Nasarawa State and their most deserved Keana LGC.
In recognition of his distinguished, patriotic and meritorious service to fatherland, Emmanuel Onyatikpo Elayo was awarded Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON in 2002 by His Exellency, Olusegun Obasanjo, and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In 2003, Sir Emmanuel Elayo was selected by the Traditional Kingmakers as the 33rd Osana of Keana, a 1st class traditional ruler and the President of the Keana Local Government Tradition Council. He was officially installed and presented with the staff of office by His Excellency Governor Abdullahi Adamu in 2004.
As a selfless philanthropist, HRH touched the lives of countless people. Deeply compationate, generous and always ready to give a helping hand to anyone who comes his way. His philanthropic activities were legendary and were motivated by a burning desire to serve his people and mankind faithfully at all times.
Ever an advocate for peace and harmonious coexistence amongst the various communities in the state and county, HRH Emmanuel Elayo was a member of various peace initiatives, including member, Presidential Committee of Plateau State Crisis, the Christian leaders peace committee,, to mention a few.
Osana Elayo was a leader of leaders, a servant-leader, a family pillar and grateful monarch. His life was a life spiritually tempered and emotionally fulfilled. He indeed lit up our firmament!
HRH Osana Emmanuel Elayo slept in the Lod on Friday, 6 May 2016, aged 84, at the Iranian Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Even on his hospital bed, he continued to impact those who came across him. The hospital staff remarked that they had never met someone as extraordinary and unforgettable as Osana Elayo.
As the Osana joins his ancestors and his Almighty Maker, the Elayo family is humbled and proud to have had him as towering Patriach and a great son of the Kwararafa Empire and Alago nation even as we lovingly bid him farewell.
HRH is survived by his beloved wife, Mrs. Tina Elayo, children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and countless families, friends and associate. He will be greatly missed and the vacuum his departure has created will be impossible to fill.
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