The Igala people are historically known for peace, tolerance, and a deep sense of brotherhood. Our culture is built on mutual respect, communal living, and the belief that one Igala person is the keeper of another. From generation to generation, our ancestors upheld values of honesty, love, fairness, and unity, which earned the Igala tribe respect among neighboring ethnic groups.
However, it is painful to observe that today, these noble values are gradually fading. Almost overnight, everything seems to have changed. We no longer give due respect to our culture, our traditions, and, most importantly, to one another. The bond of brotherhood that once held us together is now weakened by division, envy, and personal interests. Instead of protecting one another, some of us now engage in actions that bring harm, shame, and disunity to our own people.
Practices such as Ulena Ulaka and OMIKATE-Ayo, which should symbolize dialogue, correction, and collective responsibility, are now being misused as tools for personal attacks and political manipulation. Rather than promoting peace and understanding, they are sometimes used to spoil one another’s image in order to gain favor from politicians or those in power. This is not the Igala way. Our ancestors taught us that leadership and progress must be built on truth, fairness, and collective good—not betrayal and hatred.
We must remind ourselves that no politician will love the Igala people more than we love ourselves. When we destroy one another to please outsiders, we weaken our voice, our unity, and our future. A divided people cannot command respect, influence, or meaningful development. Unity is our greatest strength, and without it, we will continue to lose opportunities meant for our land and our children.
This is a sincere call to all Igala sons and daughters: let us stop this destructive path and make things right. Let us return to the values of love, respect, and mutual support. Let us correct one another with wisdom, not malice; with truth, not lies; and with peace, not violence. Differences of opinion should not turn us into enemies. We can disagree and still remain brothers and sisters.
The Igala land will only grow when we stand together with one voice, one heart, and one purpose. Let us keep the love going, strengthen our brotherhood, and restore the dignity of the Igala tribe. The future is in our hands, and history will judge us by how well we preserved unity, peace, and our cultural heritage.
– Yusuf Abdulrahman Ali writes from Jos, Nigeria.
