ARISE IGALA MAGAZINE - ISSUE 29

ISSN: 2141-7423 ISSUE 29 NIG. N1000 USA $10.00 UK £5.00 JANUARY - FEBRUARY, 2016

BREAKING THE SILENCE: Prince Sanni Speaks On The Way Forward For Kogi State And Why He Supported Late Prince Audu

UNMASKING IGALA DOMINANCE

AND KOGI POLITICAL SWINGS C e l e b r a t e

I n s p i r e

C h a l l e n g e

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

Native Town Agojeju, Onitchaigo, Ofu LGA

Interest Cooking, Reading, Listening To Music Occupation Student Favourite Igala Food Oje Akpa And Obo Egwa Like(s) Honesty Dislike(s) Betrayal, Disappoitment, Betrayal And Lies Igala Hero/Heroine Inikpi Oma Ufedo Baba Dream for Igalaland To Be A Land Where Dreams Are Fulfilled

OMA UFEDO ATA

Current Residence Lokoja

FACE OF INIKPI

Full Name Ameh Ojochogwu Blessing

Phone 08143434042

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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THE ROYAL QUOTES

HRM, DR. IDAKWO

AMEH OBONI II ATA IGALA Agabaidu, Ata Igala and Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs.

“

“The hallmark of our royal sovereignty will be that of an eminent father, purposed to produce a principled and prosperous people.

The people will play their rightful roles locally, nationally and globally. We will try to deal with the challenges at the local level, and make our contributions at the wider levels by actively engaging our people on what is for the public good. We will need to care for the children – spiritually and materially, to restore family and societal values and appropriate ethics. Our children should be decent in every way; in their dressing, conduct and mannerism. We call for renewed love and general forgiveness amongst our people, as an unforgiving community will not make progress. The new love combined with the secular nature of our communities will help in dealing with the prevailing insecurity of life and property”.

The above was part of the first Royal speech delivered by His Royal Majesty, Agaba Idu, Ameh Oboni II, Ata Igala on the occasion of the presentation of the staff of office by his Excellency, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada, the Executive Governor of Kogi State on Saturday 27th April, 2013 at the Ata Igala’s Palace, Idah.

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

GRAND PATRON His Royal Majesty DR. IDAKWO MICHAEL AMEH OBONI Agabaidu, Ata Igala & Chairman, Kogi State Council of Chiefs.

FOUNDER/PUBLISHER ONOJA JAMES OKPANACHI President/CEO, Onoja Dreams Network Limited Managing Editor Emmanuel Nathan Oguche Online Editor Idakwo Oguche Columnists Ojochide Yusuf-Nathan Emmanuel Nelson Arome Pst. Livinus Husseini Okpe Mallam Mohhammed Atojoko Contributors Idibia Ojabo Muhammed Nasirdeen Lawal (Eleojo Mama) Moses Abimaje David Usman Yakubu PHOTO PARTNERS De Famous Studio | JT Digital World | Ottagab Voice & Vision PRODUCTION ARISE IGALA MAGAZINE (ISSN: 2141-7423) is published by ONOJA DREAMS NETWORK LIMITED (RC 868974), ABUJA: C29, MIB Plaza, First Avenue, Gwarinpa, F.C.T. | LOKOJA: C/O NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja. +234 (0)803 698 0602, (0)805 663 0751, (0)803 968 1501 Website: www.ariseigala.com, Twitter: @ariseigala, Facebook: ARISE IGALA Magazine Email: ariseigala@gmail.com, ariseigala.sales@gmail.com, ariseigala.opinion@gmail.com Copyright (c) 2010-2016 Onoja Dreams Network Limited

VISION To inspire a generational change that will give birth to a new breed of Igala people in the face of globalization thereby changing perspectives on selves as we consciously bring out the beauty in our people

MISSION To be (and remain) the most informative, educative, entertaining, challenging, inspiring and authentic source of information on the past and current issues of Igala Kingdom and her people as the authoritative voice and image maker of Igala race via publications and media activities.

MANDATE Our mandate is to Celebrate, Inspire and Challenge Igala sons and daughters at home and abroad into positive ventures for the benefit of mankind.

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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UNMASKING IGALA DOMINANCE

AND KOGI POLITICAL SWINGS

CONTENTS

12

REGULARS

ROYAL QUOTES

>

FROM THE ARCHIVE

>

PUBLISHER’S DESK

>

EDITORIAL

>

COMMUNITY

>

EVENT & PEOPLE

>

FLIPBACK

>

BREAKING THE SILENCE:

Prince Sanni Speaks On The Way Forward For Kogi State And Why He Supported Late Prince Audu

17

4 8 9 10 23 29 33

We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for views. The views in this publication are not sacrosanct. Readers have right to reply. All photographs in ARISE IGALA are copyright of the magazine and may not be reproduced, copied or used in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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FROM THE ARCHIVE

IYE OKPO ACHADU IGALA This Igala traditional chief, Iye Okpo Achadu Igala is saddled with the responsibility of piercing the ears of Ata Igala by the virtue of her chieftaincy title. She performed this role in March, 2013 when she pierced the ears of His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu, Ata Igala, Dr. Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni at the Achadu domain.

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

PUBLISHER’S DESK

ONOJA J. OKPANACHI PUBLISHER/CHIEF EDITOR

Don’t Blame Them, Just Take Responsibility

T

he blame game can only reduce us to people who make excuses for every of our failures. Blaming others will only make us less proactive and too dependable on people who may never help us or support us to realize our dreams or God given potentials.

I have the privilege of always meeting and relating with top seeds of Igala origin home and away and most times I pity them honestly because of the rate of calls that come through to them; without exaggeration, at least 90% of such calls are for financial requests and so on. And, then I wonder how many people they can actually support at the end of the day. And if they do, for how long will they be able to sustain this flow of ask and give?

It was on this note that I took my time to carefully study the situation and how we end up here with this growing unethical trend.

Arise Igala-Issue 29

Arriving at some conclusions, it was obvious that both those at the top and the ones at the bottom have their shares of the blame and we all must take responsibility.

Let me start with those at the bottom - when you keep asking for financial support from someone only to eat up the money each time it’s given then you will end up in a trap of continuous begging and at a point you will begin to hate yourself because you must have exhausted your goodwill. But, when you present a project in the form of business idea and the likes and eventually get funding and you dedicate your time to it you will surely become independent and even those who funded you will be very proud and they will be inspired to do more for others because your success means a plus to the society.

For those at the top - the best you can do for any soul in the land (and outside)

is to empower them either through education, investing in their projects or dreams or connecting them to realize their dreams and full potentials.

The danger in not raising people is that you will keep having many mouths to feed and you will keep struggling to do so and that can only push you to become who you are not to many people as disappointments and delays will surely set in with time.

It will be better for the land to have 100 fairly rich people than to have only 2 or 3 super rich men among them.

You can imagine what the consequences could be.

Finally, I see a new generation emerging where followership and patience will be taking seriously as the current leaders will imbibe the spirit and idea of mentorship. We can save our land, build a better future for our children and generations yet unborn.

Arise!

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

EDITORIAL

Stop The Fight

E

very event in life brings certain lesson(s) for those who care to look beyond the immediate happenings around them. When one consciously or unconsciously subjects himself to results of events and fail to analyse them critically then there is bound to be confusion.

Things don’t just happen, there are factors responsible for every happening and these factors are the points we should be more concerned about either as individuals or group. For the Igala kingdom and her people, we must wake up to this reality of fixing the problem of leadership and elder-statesmanship in the land. It is high time we understood as a people that being reactionary over issues can’t always give us the desire results particularly in a multicultural nation like Nigeria.

Today, unlike what was obtainable in the past, leadership is divided along political parties and affiliations; whosoever occupies a high political/public office becomes an automatic leader and the moment he or she is out of the office, the person’s relevance and value drop instantly and loyalty shifted. This is very sad and not Igala in any way in view of our cultural ethics and values.

This ugly development is one responsible largely for the collapse of leadership and lack of clear direction in the land and if we must avert all the pending dooms then we must as a matter of urgency begin to change our attitudes politically, socially and economically too. At this point, conscious efforts to launch mentorship projects in Igalaland is highly needed - The youths must realise that there is a growth process that must be followed and that they should be made to understand that there is no free money anywhere in the world and that the unfortunate idea of sudden wealth be eradicated (gradually but practically) from their mindset.

As a people with rich cultural heritage and history filled with heroes and heroines who sacrificed a lot for our common good and existence, we must embrace the proactive approach to things and not to lay low always until we are touched in bad ways then we wake up to fight. Fighting won’t take us anywhere but strategic planning will. We must know what we want, when we want it and how we want to get it done or achieved.

There is hope for the Igala nation. Our success and greatness will help the Nigeria project to be better and stronger.

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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COVER STORY

UNMASKING IGALA DOMINANCE

AND KOGI POLITICAL SWINGS (Part II)

Cont. from Issue 28

By Rev. Fr. Attah Anthony Agbali

A 12

new generation of Igala youths are frolicking and

energetically bursting out into the open with novel messages, dreams, and aspirations. These are casting aside any hint or appellation that perceives them as the “beaten generation” (call

them “Indomie generation” or millennials if you like).

These are stubbornly breaking new grounds and mapping new arena for political engagements. They are essentially rejecting old Arise Igala-Issue 29

COVER STORY

norms of blind obedience and unflavored obeisance to any power monger. They want their future redeemed rather than sabotages, and aspires to salvage themselves from all forms of savage existence. Most are very reactive to the previous generations before them and their “fossilized” and “deadbeat” modes that have enabled past political subjugation. Many are obviously angered by the generations ahead of them, and are no longer playing the games of political correctness that bonded and burdened the generations ahead of them.

Yet their stance is not merely reactionary but cogently solidified within their intent to see real changes in their lifetime.

The “Indomie generation” are refusing to masquerade and tame their anger without lamely acceding Arise Igala-Issue 29

to overt gerontocratic control. These seek their own meaning and relevance, often leery of unbridled and insolent power display.

Despite enduring festering and unlimited misrule, they are a better generation more educated than their forebears, and more exposed and open to the world.

New forms of interactive and communicative technologies connect them globally.

Empaneled and elevated by social media— Facebook, twitter, etc., they are sounding their drumbeat and raising the rhythm.

Many are tired of old schemes and political games deploying ethnic maneuvers in plotting dominance. They mistrust divisive ethnic mantras and certain forms of political correctness. A vast majority avidly perceive limitless opportunities ahead, in spite of the face of daring limiting circumstances, as they explore the hourglasses of change; cogent transformations favoring their goals of

“

meaningful existence.

Tired of old mantras and clichés, carpe diem, they seize their fate in their hands. This is predictably a good omen toward engendering participatory and integrative politics that will positively enlarge the spheres of interethnic and interreligious engagement and dialogue.

These are the new arrowheads of political change in Igalaland, and Kogi State. Many were born into a democratic Nigeria, without the direct experience of military dictatorships.

In spite of the disfigured face of Nigerian bloated democratic formation, they have the positive advantages of adopting and integrating democratic languages, processes, and tools to ensure social transformation, no matter its burdens and manifest efforts. Devoid of code switching forth and back between the Janusfaced experiences marking democratic and demented military governance, their focused efforts can deploy

Many are tired of old schemes and political games deploying ethnic maneuvers in plotting dominance.

They mistrust divisive ethnic mantras and certain forms of political correctness.

A vast majority avidly perceive limitless opportunities ahead, in spite of the face of daring limiting circumstances, as they explore the hourglasses of change; cogent transformations favoring their goals of meaningful existence

13

COVER STORY and ensure meaningful translations of dreams into realities.

We now see the imprints of this generation; that when they mean business they get things done. It is this generation in their forward march that now constitutes a huge voting bloc. They are the focal actors in creating the ambience of change—even if do not fully grasp their logics and their ways may sound irrational and insensible, they are motivated toward creating the features of their dreamed universe. A universe of hope. Thus, in spite of the EFCC albatross around Audu, and their incessant harassment the Indomie generation refused to be deterred. Their readings was our misreading, therefore they massively supported and voted his APC ticket.

Powerful in their voting indignation protesting the incumbent governance of Idris Wada, they unmasked his power of incumbency.

Audu’s death created a political vacuum. As it is well known, the election of November 21st, 2005 was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as inconclusive. The APC ticket, consisting of Audu and his running mate, James Faleke, an Okun Yoruba, resident and representing Lagos state in the Federal legislative, were leading.

Then Audu suddenly dropped dead. The equation changed. Since the election was not “conclusive”, Faleke

14

could not step to Audu’s place. There was no political antecedents to squarely address the issue. But INEC went ahead and requested the APC to produce a replacement for the late Audu, and setting the election date for December 5th, 2015. Then all hell broke loose, and daring intrigues set-in.

The Igala wanted to maintain their place.

Throwing caution to the wind, and sidelining Faleke, some Igala political dimwit suggested Audu’s name substitution by his oldest son, Mohammed. Some are insisted Audu’s running mate Faleke be declared governor-elect, and/or his name be entered for the remaining elections. Later, Igala APC stalwarts buckled, reversing their earlier stance and anti-clockwise endorsing Faleke as governor and APC candidate, with Audu’s son as deputy. But the APC national party had alternative plans.

The national party leadership endorsed Yahaya

Bello as Audu’s replacement, while Faleke remains as he was as running mate. Faleke refused and stonewalled, going to court to claim what he considers his mandate.

Many litigations arouse.

Nonetheless, the national APC leadership refused to demure regarding Bello’s eligibility. Bello, it was rationalized was the next highest voted candidate in the APC’s primaries, after Audu. The APC logic was that he was the natural “democratic” choice to represent the party’s platform, while Faleke was Audu’s personal choice. The Igala APC establishment went sonorous and their deafening reticence was troubling.

The elections held according on December 5th, 2015 and INEC declared Yahaya Bello, the governorelect. There remain strained relations within the APC as Faleke refused to be associated and claimed as Bello’s running mate. He has gone to court to seek relief, and has gone back to his work at the National Assembly. Governor Wada too, had indicated that given numerous constitutional issues and allegations of electoral malpractices that he will go to court.

As I interpreted these events, I sensed that many among the “Indomie generation” are not encumbered by issues of ethnicity and religion.

Many celebrated Yahaya Bello, regardless of the circumstances of his political Arise Igala-Issue 29

COVER STORY emergence, as a mark of generational change and a role model. Many among these wants to believe that Bello will excel and do better than the displaced army of political gerontocrats. Where their dreams will match the reality on the future will tell.

Bello, it seems will be beset with many litigations, and whether he will secure his “acquired” mandate is left to anyone’s imagination. But one thing is clear. He has the goodwill of the young citizens of Kogi State. These youngsters are ready to throw overboard the ghosts of ethnicity in ensuring the transformation of Kogi State. Bello has large shoes to wear, as the expectations are not only messianic but daunting. In spite of my personal stance for justice and fairplay--and Bello is even nicknamed “fairplus,” and therefore, I believe he would abhor becoming “fairminus”-he has in this short time acquired some goodwill and political capital.

Fairplus is probably very mindful of this. Recent indicators, from the political grapevine, alleges that Yahaya Bello is seemingly trying to pacify the Audu political family. He is noted to have extended the olive branch to the Audu’s direct family, by stretching the carrot stick to Audu’s estranged wife, Aisha Audu.

Whether, this is a wise move remains unclear. But such motions whether placation or affront is heavily loaded and its backfiring capabilities Arise Igala-Issue 29

In spite of the EFCC albatross around Audu, and their incessant harassment the Indomie generation refused to be deterred. Their readings was our misreading, therefore they massively supported and voted his APC ticket

is immense. It is uncertain, regarding how the rest of the Audu family will perceive this. For good or ill, for now there is predictable answer, except as a matter of subjective conjectures.

Aisha and Prince Audu were formally divorced, and their heated spousal altercations was publicly chronicled. Aisha also had been politically proactive on her own merits, outside of been Audu’s first lady prior to Audu’s ousting in 2003. In 2011 Aisha independently canvassed for votes as a gubernatorial candidate, and contested that election against her ex-spouse. Aisha has also worked, in recent years, in furthering the interests of the PDP eliciting support for erstwhile President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) reelection in the March 2015 presidential elections.

Some Kogi political pundits insinuate that such masterstrokes, and tongue-incheek moves are not utterly surprising. These boldly accused Bello as working in the November 21st, 2015 elections direct against the APC and Audu’s interests, furthering the PDP’s interest. They allude to Bello loss of his ward and local

government to the PDP as evidentiary solid. Therefore, they sensed this “robbing Peter to pay Paul” within the current round-robin political gaming dynamics as a convenient ploy between two birds of the same quill.

However, Bello seems to have some goodwill and political capital. However, he utilizes these positively will be telling about his political even after Audu’s demise and in the midst of all of these political misgivings, it is breathtaking to know that Bello’s APC won the majority vote of the elections conducted in Dekina Local Government on December 5th, 2015.

One would have wondered that given Igala’s sense of loss, that the elections will ineluctably favor, Wada, son of the soil, and Igala. But this was not the case. Is there something that the auguries are revealing? I don’t know, and I cannot say for sure.

But it is vitally and symbolic in its breath. To whom much is given, much is demanded, though.

In spite of all, I have not failed to ask myself this question: how does a generation that wants change condone any similitude of injustice, and

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

INTERVIEW

BREAKING THE SILENCE: PRINCE SANNI SPEAKS ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR KOGI STATE AND WHY HE SUPPORTED LATE PRINCE AUDU Prince Halilu Sanni Shuaibu is the Chairman/Managing Director of HARISH GROUP, ABUJA – NIGERIA. He has extensive professional experience and significant executive leadership accomplishments in business and philanthropy. Strong diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals.

Applies qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for progress to strategic governance efforts.

A core professional and results driven business director and pubic administration/governance expert with 25 years experience in managing and leading large business departments and directing full cycles for complex, multilocation public services projects and initiatives involving large systems including eGovernance, education, accounting and financial related systems implementation and business process reviews who also is a politician spoke with ARISE IGALA MAGAZINE recently in Abuja after series of attempts.

Despite his tight schedules, we were able to get him speak on some vital issues.

Excerpts:

Arise Igala-Issue 29

17

INTERVIEW

PRINCE SANNI SPEAKS ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR KOGI STATE AND WHY HE SUPPORTED LATE PRINCE AUDU Meeting Prince Halilu Sanni Shauibu am Prince Halilu Sanni Shuaibu from Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi state. I am a businessman and a politician.

Congress (APC) Guber Primary Election in the state taught me to stay away a while because of the ways of the people. However, I have my foot soldiers on ground who always help me carry out my God given assignment to the people; I keep supporting the needy at the grassroots the best way I can as Almighty blesses me. My primary focus is on students and widows and sometimes on the general need that may arise with time.

I

Reasons for the silence and recent absence on the political scene in Kogi state in view of the recent developments.

Honestly, the Kogi political quagmire as it is to me, every Kogite and many observers and even other interested parties so far can be summarized as a national disgrace. We came together for the purpose of moving the entity forward.

We are made up of different ethnicities with varying cultural backgrounds which should be to our advantage but we seem to be moving apart instead.

Friends and well meaning individuals called me up to step into the political field of the state and go for the number one seat in view of my experience, contacts and international relations.

I accepted, and, we moved into action visiting royal fathers, community leaders, youths, organizations and higher institutions all in a bid to inform them, seek their consents and let them know that we need to go in a new direction but it turned out to be a game. And, I wonder 18

how the people can ever get the right leaders when they are not even honest to those who seek to lead them.

That experience was so shocking to me, it was so painful not because of the money spent nor the time and human resources invested in the whole process but because of some select few who feel some people are not qualify to run certain races political or serve in some capacity until they deem it fit. But the most painful thing is that this set of people keep their reasons only to themselves and we can only suspect that they are afraid of being reducing to nothing by the time better hands get on board.

Again, my experience from the last All Progressives

How long will these silence and absence be? Prince Sanni speaks on Again, I will go back to the Primary election and the aftermath - Before then, we made promises and also got promises but on the real day, things changed. We know those who changed things and they know we know them so there is this fear that some of us coming or being around may not be healthy for them so they do all possible to keep us off.

But the truth remains that they can’t stop the change or what God has destined to be.

Time is always moving forward and so we will surely make progress. I strongly believe so.

On the support for Late Prince Abubakar Audu Soon after the APC primary election, I decided to support Arise Igala-Issue 29

INTERVIEW the party’s flag bearer since my main objective is the good of Kogi state and her people. I did this as a politician with the spirit of true sportsmanship. It was on this note that I donated at the fundraising in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. I redeemed my N10,000,000 immediately as pledged. This is in view of my strong believe of the party and the future of our state.

Prince responding to the need of his experience in Kogi state today in view of the leadership and economic crises Let me start like this, this company (that I run) has its structures, where we are today (Ministers Hills, Maitama, Abuja) doing this media chat/interview is the headquarters. Whenever we require the services of certain class skills, we advertise, interview and select the best of them. So also is the situation of a state structure; there are processes to doing things.

Kogi state is blessed with great and intelligent individuals in all sectors of our nation’s economy and with careful selection, we can be among the best. So, it is not my responsibility to push

If leadership remains on one side of the zones, there will be continuous blame but if power shifts round people will later begin to concentrate more on who can deliver and no longer the tribe or religion

myself on the system but for the system to recognise my contributions to the nation’s economy and then see the kind of role I should play in redeeming the image of our dear state. I want to believe that the same thing goes for many others.

And, one very important point I want to emphasise here is that consultancy is fundamental in getting the best. Seek to know from the very best on how to make the system work.

What if given the opportunity today?

I can not change my identity neither can I change my state of origin; I am naturally a Kogite. So, contributing my quota to the development of my state is one thing I will not hesitate to do. We contribute to other states via training, consultancy and projects and even at the federal level too

If leadership remains on one side of the zones, there will be continuous blame but if power shifts round people will later begin to concentrate more on who can deliver and no longer the tribe or religion

so I should do more for my state if called upon. There are key areas in the state that should be opened up for investments and so on.

However, the level at which the contributions can be made matters a lot. Good proposals, advices and suggestions are fundamental at this point. With good team spirit, I can work with anybody.

Speaking on his motivation for supporting Late Prince Audu and political participation First, my participation in politics is for the good of the people and so when the primary election was over and a flag bearer emerged, I decided to support Prince Abubakar Audu because of his capacity and wealth of experience to move the state forward from its standstill position.

Also, the words of APC national leader, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during one of our private meetings motivated me a great deal.

He gave me reasons as the party’s national leader to go on supporting Prince Audu.

When I match those words with the enthusiasm of Prince Cont. on page 22

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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21

INTERVIEW

PRINCE SANNI SPEAKS ON THE WAY FORWARD FOR KOGI STATE AND WHY HE SUPPORTED LATE PRINCE AUDU

of the Niger at that point, I could feel hope for my dear state.

So, I never regretted my support financially, morally and otherwise. I feel very fulfilled for participating in the project of my party, the project I believed in.

Prince on the Kogi of his dream politically and economically Today, the 24th day of February, 2016 I want to state categorically that the Kogi of my dream is a land of peaceful co-existence, high quality basic social amenities with economic activities at the top gear. I desire to see a state where taking charge of leadership will be devoid of ethnicity and religious sentiments. A state where serious emphasis will be laid on experience, capacity and quality of leadership for the 22

benefit of all.

If leadership remains on one side of the zones, there will be continuous blame but if power shifts round people will later begin to concentrate more on who can deliver and no longer the tribe or religion. So, God has his own divine plans for the state therefore fighting each other will not help the state at this point.

On this note, my candid advise to Mohammed Abubakar Audu is to really go on extensive research to find out those who really supported his father all through his political life and thank them well and then begin to learn from certain level as it is obvious that some few people around him may mislead him just for their own selfish interests.

Words for the youths on leadership and responsibility For the Kogi youths out there, you must take responsibility for your actions because any time you go

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the wrong way people will trace you back home. Out of the country they will easily say he is a Nigerian but at home the people will say he is from so and so. Therefore, we must always be conscious of the place we come from, our values and ethics. These things matter a lot as they serve as guide all the way and with this consciousness, we develop into being better leaders.

The youths must always think first of those things that will bring good name and glory to their land and people instead of the ugly, painful and strange trends we witness today. Painfully, people now identify Kogi with some vices like kidnapping, armed robbery et al. There is a need for change of attitude and reorientation.

The leaders in business, politics, public service and religion should begin mentoring of the young generation to redirect their steps for the good of the future of our children and generations yet unborn.

The youths must always think first of those things that will bring good name and glory to their land and people instead of the ugly, painful and strange trends we witness today.

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COMMUNITY

AN AFRICAN FAMILY WHERE THE WIFE IS GRADUALLY BECOMING THE HUSBAND OF THE HOME IN ALL FRONTS - THE FATE OF AMOMA AYEGBA OM’IDOKO Posted by Ahmed Hussein to IGALA PROJECT (IgalaProject@yahoogroup.com via returns.groups.yahoo.com) on Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Have you seen where a meeting of serious national concerns where the President, the Vice President and other members of the Federal Executive Council are seated hale and hearty and the organisers announce the VP as the Chairman of such meeting and duly allocate to him the seat of the 1st man of the occasion to the very eyes and amazement of the President?

A meeting convened to mark the naming ceremony of a child with the father, mother, children and other household members present and the mother is adjudged the best to preside over such meeting and duly accorded the seat of the 1st man of the occasion with well dressed and sun protective royal umbrella while the father is left seated in the sun?

Should things continue to go wrong with the Igala nation without a collective desire to redress the situation?

Food for thoughts by Ahmed Hussein

REACTIONS: My brother, It does happen in an economically disadvantaged structure; where the wife holds the ice.

Weep not.

Hussaini Solomom Heading a family is not done with the penis. It’s about being responsible and stepping up to the occasion when situation demands. If she pays the bills she is the Arise Igala-Issue 29

head of the family.

If you are not okay with that arrangement then step up and take up the title as well as the responsibilities that come with it.

Siaka Alhassan I have been following with interest this thread. It elicits certain comments and observations in contributing my three cents to the ongoing diatribe--the ways I sense it!

I believe that getting into

the personal dynamics of how people design and live their lives, within given family arrangements and parameters is their business for good, or for ill.

Today, many Igala are marrying even outside of the ethnic group, and therefore, different ways and ethos of their creative living exists that only themselves can understand it and guarantees their happiness or unhappiness as they select.

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COMMUNITY Cont. from page 19

Therefore, upfront, I do not believe in my mind that this should directly be the primal concern of Ukomu Igala, the Igala premier and rallying association. The corporate and public aspect of Igala affairs, especially those bordering on the socio-economic and even somewhat political aspects of our Igala existence, should be what Ukomu Igala should be about and really focused upon.

Igala should elevate and celebrate our Igala women-wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. That stated, Igala women, even within family circles were never weaklings.

Igala history depicts a portraiture of elegant and striving, as well as courageous women. Igala, never really looked upon women as second rated.

Our history that traces our first Attah to a female, Ebulejonu, and pinpoints powerful women like Adebu, as the Onuh Egume--also great friend to Ebulejonu, been key in guaranteeing her forces victory and onward movement through central Igalaland into Idah, and not excluding the salvific sacrifices of two great royal women Odoko and Inikpi, at different critical times in salvaging our Igala kingdom from total eclipse and decimation. Our Igala royal women historically were at times great forces behind the selection emergence of 24

certain past Attahs.

Many Igala women are strong and resilient and without them, many families would suffer, and even gone extinct. Many husbands, children, and family members recognize this. The sacrifices our Igala women perform each day must be boldly recognized. Thriving Igala women, and women in families, who are not causing social havoc, but living in peace, partnering well with their spouses, raising their children energetically, and passionately building their homes with love and commitment, should be applauded. For instance, until recently, the Igala USA association was presided over by a very hardworking, energetic, and performing Igala woman, Chief Amina Osagie. The quality of her work and efforts on behalf of Igala, not only in the USA, but all over the world, and specifically in the homeland, attests to the distinctive capabilities of our Igala women worldwide.

Our

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Igala collective existence should not be ordered along unnecessary hierarchies and control systems that does us not much good.

Thus, we must be leery regarding how we paint and talk about our Igala women, and even womanhood in general. And, in the same token, I appeal to our great women, especially to help not just in elevating the status of Igala women in their homes and ambience of influence, but to educate young Igala women---our children, that our culture in many ways encourages and endorse mutuality, and even when roles are adjudged differently, that certain past experiences informed these.

Igala women to be great cannot do it alone, they need their Igala men. Igala men, can also not succeed alone, they need their Igala women (or non-Igala women wives and mothers of our Igala sons and children).

True, there are and will emerge many elements of contemporary living and

we must be leery regarding how we paint and talk about our Igala women, and even womanhood in general

Arise Igala-Issue 29

COMMUNITY

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let us celebrate our women, our Igala women, our Igala wives, our non-Igala wives and husbands to our daughters and sons, especially in the ways they have and are enriching the multifaceted dimensions of our Igala cultural existence and historical elongation into the future

marital arrangements that will draw certain eyebrows because of the nature of changing times, and also of how many remain engraved in traditional cultural paradigms and practices.

The reality is that our times is changing, but that changes entails balancing of the past with the present.

We recognize many things and cultural forms and practices are today, including marriages, are not the ways they used to be in the days of our ancestors past. And, even in those old days, I believe each generation evolved along confronted with new times and situations. New times and contexts warrant new ways. If anything the richness of Igala history and cultural forms establish, it is that Igala society has always been dynamic and transformative in many ways over the course of several centuries, and that the Igala were able to transcend certain elements of their past Arise Igala-Issue 29

in confronting and dealing with novel situations.

Please let us celebrate our women, our Igala women, our Igala wives, our nonIgala wives and husbands to our daughters and sons, especially in the ways they have and are enriching the multifaceted dimensions of our Igala cultural existence and historical elongation into the future. Let us not unnecessarily, and especially from individual and few situations, antagonize and generalize about our women, and trying to pull punches that seems domineering and out-of-place. Yes, the family is the seed that embeds our Igalaness and Igala identity, and we should be concerned about what adversely affects it, but we must trade with caution.

I believe that our religious establishments, our traditional leaders and elders, clans and extended family forums (fora) may be best suited to appropriately

deal with such scenarios, where they feel so strongly about it. I do not believe that a pressure group, an associational entity, should make such matters the core of its controlling interests, even if, at times, such can draw public attention to such trends and calling for its redressing.

In this respect, I believe that the “Igala Women Who is Who” awards that our brother, Chief Hilary Amodu, engendered recently should be further encouraged and made more broader in robustly celebrating our Igala women and “womenIgala-affiliates.”

What I also think demand more important attention is the cultural forms and practices that are overtly or subtly endorsed in ways that are dethroning the Igala cultural practices and forms of celebration. While I acknowledge individual rights to perform their “big day” in whatever form they select, I am concerned that our Igala cultural forms are been overtly eclipsed. A people without culture are dead. After all, it is because certain cultural forms were developed by others that we find them attracting.

Why, and how come that we cannot ensure enthroning our own cultural forms, displaying and performing it, and elevating it upon a pedestal of attraction for other cultures to admire and copy?

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COMMUNITY For instance, it is arbitrary and an eyesore to me, to see Igala’s preference and stressful showcasing of certain unnecessary aspects of the western form (White marriage and its variations, including certain wasteful, costly, and even false impressions) and such as the Igbo marriage form of Ngba Nku Manya (Wini),and not excluding similar popular marital rites from other climes, now more heavily favored by our own (I have nothing personal against the western or Igbo forms).

It is our leeriness to transmit our Igala cultural forms and practices, while greatly imbibing and celebrating those created by others (cultural and ethnic groups), with the axiomatic undertone pointing to the Igala unconscious imagination as culturally inferior and lack of creativity (obviously false) that harbours certain instinctual inferiority complexes that truly bothers me. Can we say, in all honesty, that the Igala cultural forms are not exciting? Or, does the Igala not have cultural forms and practices worthy of displaying and sharing with the rest of the human world? If, we do, what is/ are the reasons that we, too, so often, shy away from our own cultural forms?

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I think there is a need for those with the right knowledge to please put together an outline of the Igala traditional marriage as it was in the days of our forefathers

Peace to all.

Anthony Attah Agbali, Fr. Good to hear this.

Can some one link this scenario to a recent inauguration ceremony of a Governor where No. 2 Royal Father become the Father of the Ceremony in the presence of the No 1 Royal Father of the State? This can only happen to Igala Kingdom without a slightest thought of the insult by even the King and his subjects who are preoccupied with the theory of individualism.

May God help Igala’s future generation..

Hussein Ahmed Thanks so much father Agbali. I wish there was a like button here. I have been worried in the last couple of years how traditional

marriages in Igala land have different processes and style across villages in Igalaland. I think there is a need for those with the right knowledge to please put together an outline of the Igala traditional marriage as it was in the days of our forefathers. The Igbo tradition of dancing with wine am not sure how it seats within our traditional marriage ceremony of old.

I want to believe ignorance of the process and requirements is the cause.

Regards George Enema The relationship between the two traditional rulers is in no way similar to Husband and wife analogy please.

Siaka Alhassan

Our COMMUNITY section is a selection of Online Reaction(s) and/or Trending Discussion(s) on the internet with the intention that our readers are inspired to follow the original story on the shared link. Opinion and comments expressed here are purely thought(s) of the author(s) and readers are free to respond. Please, send your reply or comment to ariseigala.opinion@gmail.com

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

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EVENT & PEOPLE

Body of late Pa Henry Hassan Amodu at the Catholic Church, Idah

Body goes in for the service

Inside the church with Hilary Amodu going to take his seat

Family members inside the church

Middle: Mummy, Late Pa Amodu’s widow

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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EVENT & PEOPLE

L-R; Dr. Victor Adoji, Hilary Amodu and Hajiya Salamatu Some family members inside the church Baiwa

Women wing of the church

Listening to words of exhautation inside the church

Hilary Amodu recieves Dr. Victor Alewo Adoji who just arrived to pay last respect to Pa Henry Amodu

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

EVENT & PEOPLE

The priest giving the words of God from the holy writ

Rendering hymn during service in the church

Hilary Amodu addressing the congregation

Performing the final phase of the service before the body leaves the church

Leading the procession out of the church

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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EVENT & PEOPLE

The body of Pa Henry Hassan Amodu finally arrive for interment

After burial: Dr. Rekiya Abaji (R) with Hilary Amodu and others at the funeral

At the reception

Hilary Amodu performing the dust to dust ceremony

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The reception

Arise Igala-Issue 29

FLIPBACK

FLIPBACK: THE MAKING OF ATA IGALA

Ready for the journey, Aidokanya waving the waiting crowd outside his Lokoja residence

LOKOJA: Our Jukun brothers praying for Aidokanya (then) before leaving for Ugwolawo to begin traditional rites for the ascension to the throne of Ata Igala

The journey to Ugwolawo as the Jukun delegates from the palace of HRM, Aku Uka file out of the Lokoja residence

Aidokanya, Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni responding to the prayers

On the road to Ugwolawo, the Ajaokuta crowd waiting to bid Aidokanya success on the journey

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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FLIPBACK

On the road to Ugwolawo, the Itobe crowd

On the road, the Ajegu people waving

On the road to Ugwolawo, the Ojodu axis waving the Aidokanya

Still on the road to Ugwolawo, crowd on the road waving, showing great love

Approaching Ochadamu junction, the crowd keep growing

Taking the turn to Ugwolawo from Ochadamu junction

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Arise Igala-Issue 29

FLIPBACK

Heading for Ugwolawo where Aidokanya is billed to commence the traditional rites of becoming Ata Igala

Arriving Ugwolawo with our Jukun brothers, delegates from the Aku Uka (Wukari) to lead the way

This is the traditional hut where Aidokanya will pass the Making way to the hut in Ugwolawo night before proceeding to the Achadu Palace in Idah

Arise Igala-Issue 29

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FLIPBACK

Remain of the hut as the fire consumed it

Aidokanya is powerfully up for Idah

Arriving Igala-mela, another prayers from our Jukun brothers before the journey continues

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Ikabi, the chief from Idah arrive with a traditional cap for Aidokanya and a horse whisk too to confirm his next journey to Achadu palace in Idah

As soon as Aidokanya steps out of the hut, the mystery fire gulp the hut down

The journey continues to Idah through Igala-mela on foot

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FLIPBACK

Gallantly arriving Idah amidst cheers and great joy from the crowd

Iye Okpo Achadu Igala, the traditional chief charged with the responsibilty of piercing Aidokanya’s ears

Coming out of Iye Okpo’s room where Aidokanya had his ears pierced

Aidokanya waves the crowd after having his ears pierced by Iye Okpo Achadu Igala

In Achadu palace after the ear piercing ceremony

NTA talking with Aidokanya’s wife on the day the husband will be undergoing the last two ceremonies before being crowned Agabaidu, Ata Igala

The Jukun delegates lead the way to Ojaina, the final rest place for all the Ata Igala for the next traditional rites

Chief Egwola after the rites at Ojaina crossing to the birth place of Ata Igala with Aidokanya and the rest people in the company of Aidokanya

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FLIPBACK

Aidokanya arriving the birth place of Ata Igala where he will be transformed traditionally from Aidokanya to Agabaidu, Ata Igala

The trumpet and drums declaring the birth of a new Ata Igala

Finally, the new Ata Igala is here, Agabaidu, Ameh Oboni II

The joyful crowd heading for Ata Igala Palace, Idah

The crowd all heading for the Ata Igala Palace

Middle: Iye Oja (Onyete), Ata Igala’s wife waiting to receive Agabaidu at the Civic Centre, Ata Igala Palace

Finally, Agabaidu, Ata Igala arrives the palace amidst cheers from the crowd

At the Civic Centre in the palace, Ata Igala (M), Iye Oja (R) and HRH, Ejeh Ankpa (L)

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