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From the beautiful mountains of Kabala to the Eastern coal district, of Ankpa the Igala Nation never faltered in their faith of unity and the belief that Igala tribe is a shared gift of land that belongs to us and everyone.
From Anyigba district to the mainland of Abocho, Biraidu, from Ankpa Federal Constituency,with the unique people of Ogugu in Olamaboro, the laureates at Imane then to Okpo where our tribe is a legion.
Through Ochi to Ejule, then to Ugwolawo and then Ajaka,the cradles of our civilization and unity flows like a river into the heart of our traditional capital in Idah.
From the Seat of the Attah of Igala, down to the coastal regions of Ibaji and Itobe proceeding towards the rocky terrains of Ajaokuta our people are significantly friendly, hospitable and compassionate to one another even to strangers.
Igalas have exhibited the powerful traits of a unique people, whose resilience to adversity is strong and enduring. We are the unconquered breeds gallantly occupying the heart beat of the middle belt.
From the ancient city of Lokoja, the Igala tribe has always exhibited a communal sense of belonging clamouring for peace and unity anchored on the supremacy of the common heritage we all share together as the most influential ethnic group in the Kwarafa Kingdom.
There has always been unity in our communities,our villages,our towns and our cities from the ancient times till date and this can largely be stressed as the sole reason why the Igalas never lost any war and were never conquered, rather the kingdom continued to burst in seams and bounds.
However, a literary and factual assessments of Igalaland in contemporary discourse would show case a heart bleeding reflections of a hitherto formidable enclave set ablazed by disunity, disloyalty and egocentric quest. Our land is presently in a glaring state of misery and agony. The entire Kogi East is politically malnourished and the supposed Igala elites are paying lip service to the Igala course. Where did we get it wrong?
The slogan ‘Udama Chukpaiu’ has been a strong bond; the secret of our past glory. But it seems today that this foundation has been totally destroyed by egocentricity and malicious sentiments.
Thus, today, I write to you as a true son of our land; a dogged descendant of the revered Ayegba Oma’Idoko. I am painstakingly bothered and burdened by the deteriorating condition of our land and the avoidable condition of poverty featuring in the lives of our people.
I write to announce that it is time to hide our ego and bury our grudges against one another. We must strive towards the common goal of our ethnic extraction because our people has been neglected to the apogee of their innocence and trust. Our past glories has been rubbished to the extreme,the integrity of our tribe has been mocked and abused not once,not twice,but on several occasions and this aberration is still inherent.
Hon. Makama rightly observed in one of his ‘Udama’ program aired on Radio Kogi, Ochaja “it is time for us to rebuild Igala unity and strengthen our harmony”. It is only by so doing that we can address the continuous molestation and oppression of our the Igala race.
Do not get it twisted: I am not accusing anybody for our present predicaments and ordeals, even though I have enough reasons to do so, I am not pointing accusing fingers at any one for the pandemic nature of the igala poverty because it is not a season of blame game but I am challenging every true sons and daughters of ‘AneIgala’ to wake up from their age long slumber. I am challenging our illustrious sons and daughters to think of how best they can give back to the tribe by contributing their unlimited quota, I am insisting that our indigenous politicians should trash and overlook their political parties and personal grievances so as to sort for tangible ways by which we can address the Igala problem.
Above all, I am charging our indigenous igala elites to show more concern to our ethnic struggles, civil agitations and provide effective ways that can enable the complete emancipation of our people.
It is not solely an Usman Okai’s struggle but a collective agitation and aspiration for the entire Kogi state which the interestingly the igala tribe forms the majority.
The Igala nation must create room for a tribal dialogue, where disturbing issues can be discussed on a round table. We must pave way for adequate understanding amongst ourselves to defeat our present condition and also defeat the the acclaimed oppressors. Yes! Our tribe has been betrayed by our own sons and daughters who only think about themselves and their family, but we must move on and sort for ways to prosper the positive ideals of our beloved race.
The Igala problem can be ameliorated if only we agree to swallow our pride, forgive our grudges, trash selfish interest and create a paradigm shift to unite all and sundry!
This is possible and it can only begin with you. We must restructure our perceptions and foster our idealisms towards a practical realisation of unity in diversity. This is my candid resolve.
I therefore move the motion for the hash tag #IgalasUnite #ItBeginsWithMe
Long live Igala Nation
Long live Ata Igala
– Usman Okai Austin
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