As it is consistent with Kogi state government in the last three years, there is hardly any project or event linked to it that is without some rehearsed hurly-burly or massive measure of embarrassment for the state and its people. Regrettably, the state has become a contraption and a comedy centre of some sort where political actors and their cheerleaders take turns to freely entertain Nigerians and the world daily.
A case in point is the needless controversy that is presently trailing the recently commissioned Igala Unity House in Anyigba where different bodies and individuals, including the state government are fiercely claiming ownership of the project.
Ordinarily, erecting an edifice that would serve as a melting pot for the Igala people should be a cheering development, but given our insatiable appetite for self glorification and the struggle to achieve political mileage at any given time, we most times end up embarrassing ourselves.
The contending parties are the Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), Kogi State Government, Edward Onoja and Igala sons and daughters. Clearly, signs that the aforementioned interests are scheming very hard to outsmart each other manifested last Saturday during the official commissioning of the house. While ICDA officials repeatedly said the project was executed by Igala sons and daughters, the Kogi state government on the other hand claimed the project is “part of our commitment towards ensuring socio-cultural harmony in the state”.
Ultimately, the leadership of the ICDA has to come out clean on this. Some Igala sons and daughters who made generous contributions to the project are miffed by the fact that Kogi State Government, through its officials is claiming complete ownership of the project.
If indeed Kogi state government built the house, what then happened to all the financial donations made by individuals and groups connected to the ICDA? Or is the state government only trying to be clever by half by reaping where it never sowed? Again, is it true that the project was solely financed by Edward Onoja? Was the event a deft political move by the Bello guys to sell their boss to the Igala nation?
These are the germane posers begging for answers.
– Abdullahi Yunusa ProfWills
