Alhaji Aliyu Badaki has decried the unjust treatment meted on Iyara community by successive administrations in Ijumu local government and Kogi state.
Badaki, the National President of the Iyara Development Association (IDA), said the community deserves better treatment from the government at all levels to fit into its status as the local government headquarters.
Speaking at the 2024 Iyara Cultural Day on Saturday, Badaki called for a redress under the present administration of Governor Usman Ododo and the newly elected Chairman of Ijumu local government council, Alhaji Haruna Ibrahim.
He congratulated the council Chairman on his election victory and urged him to justify the confidence reposed in him by providing democracy dividends to the people of Ijumu Kingdom.
He said the annual Iyara Cultural Day symbolizes the unity and strength of the Iyara people, describing it as a veritable tool for revitalising the culture of the community from extinction.
“We congratulate our brother, the newly elected Executive Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Alh. Haruna Ibrahim on his victory at the polls and our earnest prayer is that God will help you to succeed. Please, I want you and your cabinet to remember that Iyara is the headquarters of this Local Government and it is yet to enjoy this status in terms of developmental projects. As our own, the ball is now in your court to do the needful and you can always count on us for necessary support.
“It is no longer news that the development of any society cannot be left in the hands of government alone only if we want to move forward and that is why we adopted this programme to pull resources together to enable us to embark on critical projects that will have a direct positive impact on the lives of our people.
“Unfortunately, the present security challenges ranging from kidnapping, banditry etc have lowered our developmental drive as bunch of the funds realized is being expended on Security. Our trust is in God and we know that the present administration of His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State is doing his best to tackle insecurity,” he said.
In his remarks, the Eleta Oluyara of Iyara land, Oba Jacob Meduteni called for peaceful coexistence, progress and development of the community, urging people of Iyara land to recommit themselves to the cause of peace and unity.
Oba Meduteni prayed for security of the Community and for God to restore its lost glory and congratulated them on the celebration.
Also speaking, the immediate past President of Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), Mr. Samson Aturu commended the organisers for organising the Cultural Festival, assuring of the continued partnership of the Association.
He applauded the IDA President and Eleta Oluyara for making efforts to sustain the culture of the Community, describing the ceremony as colourful.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Daps Global Group of Companies, Mr. Elvis Andy in a message to the occasion stated that the well packaged ceremony was a demonstration of the existing peace and unity in the Community.
Mr. Andy charged the Community to sustain the tempo of projecting Culture to the world and felicitated with the paramount Ruler of the Community, IDA President and people of Iyara on the celebration.
