The celebration of Eroli cultural festival is a way of showcasing our rich identity and hospitality to the world. The only way for peaceful coexistence among the peoples is by harnessing our various cultural treats, belief and folklore.
According to Edward B. Taylor from his sociological school of thought, culture is the way we talk, the way we eat, the way we see things around us and our reactions toward scenes.
The concepts of celebrating our natural endowment as people by Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) is not out of place if only doing it is with genuine intention for reuniting the entire Igala Nation from their presence state of disarray and dichotomy that bedevilled our existence.
The Eroli Igala
This assertion implies the economy trees (fruits) that is habitual or identified within the Igala nation in mostly all areas. Most of the fruits were naturally planted as a result of pollination and cross pollination while others were cultivated by man for consumption and economy purposes. Among the fruits in Igalaland includes: Cashew, Guava, Mango, Orange, Pawpaw, Pineapple, Coco nut, Palm Fruits etc. The mentioned fruits has contributed and still contributing to the growth and development of Igala Nation. Celebrating the EroliIgala cultural festival is not out of place.
The Economy Impact Of Eroli Igala
Our farmers are now smiling home every season not only for what their making from cash crop but also eroli on our various farms. It was reported that Nigeria is the largest growth of Cashew seed in West Africa and Kogi State was rated highest producer in Nigeria. In the State the Eastern part takes the lead of the production on economy large scale. With this positive development celebrating EroliIgala Cultural carnival in Igala Nation is a discovery that needs world attention. If Malaysia can celebrate the production of palm fruits, hence the celebration of our own in our own way is not out of place.
The Wickedness Of Middle Men
Despite the good development that the EroliIgala ushered into the mainstream of Igala Nation economy that in turn improved our standard of living. Some bad elements are trading negativity for quickly and urgent money making processes. Several stories abound on how unregistered middle men (Buyers) collected money from companies representative without supply while others out of sympathy will supply less than an average of what they have collected knowing fully that the Buyers Association would not be able to penalize their actions since their not registered. Despite the various sensitisation by buyers association for company representative not to offer nor involved unregistered members in the business procedures was to no avail, hence taking such decision is to their personal/company detriment. Though the activities of these bad eggs would go a long way in giving Igala Nation a bad name hence the celebration of EroliIgala is very key and should be an avenue for proper sensitisation.
The Monopoly Of Farm Gate
Farm gate is simply means the boundary between the producer of fruits (Farm) and the buyers. This boundary calls for the role of middle men (Buyers Association) before accessing both the farm and farmers. The boundary has created an enabling environment for registered buyers to make little profits after the end of every season. The activities of the middle men is to enhance temporary employment of our able men and women across board to fast tract the supply chains to meet up with their targets within the shortest period of time as agreed with company representative. The middle men can supply a company or more in a season depending on their strengths and networking.
Lately, the activities of the unregistered middle men has not only mortgaged the association but also broke the monopoly of farm gate and in turn the foreigners/companies representatives are now accessing the farm directly and determined the prices for farmers. The implications of this singular actions entails frustration of farmers by companies to maximize profits, enhance unemployment and insecurity of our community. The organizers of EroliIgala should put necessary machinery in place to address this problem of farm gate monopoly.
The Government Intervention
The need for government to create enabling environment for all and sundry to benefit from this natural endowment is important most especially in the empowerment programs. The government should beef up security for farmers, the middle men and company representatives. The government should as a matter of fact empowered the youth and farmers through medium and small scale industries to indulge in planting of economy trees. The government should also provide high breed of various fruits to farmers. All thanks to Dusak Global Services for the provision of high breed cashew seed to farmers across the Eastern part of the state freely. The organizer should liaise with government on the above mentioned intervention program.
Planting And Replanting Of Economy Trees
According to agriculturalist, in twenty years from now, almost all the economy trees in Igala Nation will not only weather away but their existence would become history. This problem is not as a result of any disaster or epidemic but lack of replacement culture. The life span of most of the Eroli is little below fifty years and it is expected of anyone to indulge the habit of replanting our various economy trees at least every seasons to keep the various species going for longer period of time. Let the celebration be an avenue for enlightenment of planting and replanting of eroli.
Italo Festival
Italo festival is celebrated by Igala people in the early nineties and it was referred to as Igala National Day with the motive of uniting all and sundry of Igala extraction at home and in diaspora.
Italo is a rally point where socio-political and economic problems that’s affecting Igala Nation are table for finding a lasting solution to ameliorate them. The gathering is also an avenue where all personal grudges among the high ranking profiles Igala personalities are settled but the euphoria that characterised the festival was eluded.
Many thanks to Alhaji Shehu Akus, Pa Matthew Edegboaya and Egbaolimajo all of blessed memories, though Italo has become more of a political jamboree among the Igala politicians instead of a medium for solving the immediate and impending problems of Igala Nation. It is awfully wrong for Italo to becomes a wrestle grand amongst various supporters of Igala politicians.
The Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) was vested with the authority to organised Italo festival from onset but the then Attah Igala and Chairman Kogi State Council of Chief Alhaji (Dr.) Aliyu Obaje suspended the festival because of the ugly development orchestrated by high profile Igala politicians. The suspension has become necessary because of the scenario witnessed during the festival held on Monday 31st December, 2007 at Anyibga”. The celebration resulted in a political clash between supporters of the late Prince Abubakar Audu of blessed memory and that of Chief Ibrahim Idris.
It’s already eleven years since the suspension has been enforced, I want to use this medium to urge the Attah Igala and Chairman Kogi State Council of Chiefs to as a matter of urgency revisit the suspension and authorized the current leadership of ICDA to organise a befitting Igala National Day/Italo festival for us to discuss the perennial problems facing Igala Nation.
This and many more are my observations for the organizers of EroliIgala cultural festival.
Thank you all.
– Sule Isa Akagwu Kpaleko
Anyigba – Kogi State.
