1. PREAMBLE
In the current efforts at building a formidable Cultural, Social, Economic, and Knowledge-Based Organization, the Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) has witnessed tremendous transformation under the current leadership of Alh. Abubakar Amodu Sadiq.
With every sense of modesty, this Rejoinder is not expected to be used at this moment as a platform to showcase ongoing achievements of ICDA, but to delve into matters of wanton misnformation being traded to becloud the recent enviable corporate profile of the Association and its leadership.
As a matter of fact, it is noted that “Comment (by any reasonable person) is free, but FACTS are SACRED” Therefore, this Rejoinder has become imperative to put the records straight when there is a desperate machination to rewrite the current, ongoing history of ICDA in an outright discombobulation being perpetrated on some social media platforms (especially in a current edition of the Nigerian Post), by Simeon Oyigu, a former member of ICDA Board of Trustees, and some of his co-travellers.
Ordinarily, there should not have been any need to reply such gross misrepresentation and misinformation, but for the need to provide authentic, factual information, against his torrents of unwarranted tirades.
2. THE GENESIS OF THE CURRENT RE-ENGINEERED LEADERSHIP.
So, for the benefit of hindsight, the journey started in 2017, when the current President of ICDA, Alh. Abubakar Amodu Sadiq anchored a meeting of illustrious and like minds at Anyigba to discuss why ICDA, in retrospect was great, then became inactive and almost dormant; the prospects and how it could be repositioned to meet the aspirations of the Igala people at home and in The Diaspora.
After all logical deliberations, it was agreed that the body needed help. Some names were recommended for consultation which Dr. Simeon Oyigu was among because of his full time activism in ICDA affairs, though others warned against his belligerent legal cases against ICDA in the past, which impeded its progress and advancement. However, Mr. Thomson Makolo was mandated to meet Dr. Oyigu which he did twice and subsequently, there was a followed up meeting with Dr. Oyigu by Alh. Abubakar Amodu Sadiq and others for discussion on how to revive ICDA for the betterment of Igala Land and People. (This shows clearly that Dr. Oyigu was not the initiator of the idea to restructure ICDA. He was rather invited into the process).
It will be recalled that some of his suggestions and recommendations were carefully considered.
3. CORPORATE REGISTRATION OF ICDA.
It is factually on record that with the consent of the then National EXCO, the current President, Alh. Abubakar Amodu Sadiq coordinated and financed all the process that got ICDA registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It can be vividly recalled that none of the Trustees nominated including Dr. Oyigu could contribute one naira to the cost of registration. This however was not a problem as Alh. Abubakar Amodu Sadiq passionately used his pocket money to pay all the charges.
4. RESTRUCTURING OF ICDA.
With the legal status attained by the Association, its retructuring became very paramount. However, a weak development in the process of restructuring ICDA occured as the nomination of Trustees was hurriedly done just to expedite the process of the hitherto corporate registration with the view to avoid too many encumbrances. Be that as it may, it was subjected to corrections and ratification at the general meeting. That is why NO State Chapter of ICDA, including the existing Local Government area chapters and or even traditional institutions were consulted for input on the nomination of the ICDA Trustees.
Consequently, it was agreed that the activities of the incorporated Trustees be placed on Acting Capacity because ICDA has been in existence and belong to the people from different chapters across the globe.
It is on record, that among other stakeholders, it was also a gentleman agreement among us, as Dr. Oyigu, appealed to emerge as the Acting Chairman of the Board. In view of his personally indicated interest, his request was obliged without hesitation but made subject to acceptance and confirmation by the General Meeting- knowing fully well that it is completely wrong to make anyone Board Chairman without due process.
As a Matter of fact, at this moment, there is no any document at CAC neither ICDA Constitution that Dr Oyigu signed as Chairman or Presiding Officer to the Board. He only signed against his name as a member, knowing fully well the implications. He therefore acted as Chairman for three years but unfirtunately failed to do the needful to earn his confirmation by the General Assembly, at the following Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association.
5. DEMOCRATIC ACTIONS OF THE AGM.
Specifically, the most democratic event occurred on August 1st, 2020.
The event was very successful as 21 State Delegates including the FCT actively participated alongside the Nine Local Government Area Chapters of our great Organisation.
It is evidently on record that The Notice of AGM was duly served to all the whole delegates including our highly respected Traditional Institutions. Though it is noted that the ICDA Board of Trustees was not dissolved at that time, but the AGM after due consideration of issues, appointed Trustees from Igalamela, Ofu, Ankpa and Olamaboro to fill up their slots respectively.
Again the AGM deemed it expedient to disengage some individuals in the Board based on non-performance and other issues militating against them, hence, they were replaced immediately by nominees from their respective local government chapters.
However, it should also be noted that the whole procedures was in accordance with the provision of the ICDA Constitution.
To crown it all, names of successful BoT Members were published on National and Local Newspapers as required by law and there was no objection even after three months, so that made it legally binding.
The Board is now functioning well in the corporate interest against any personal aggrandizement.
6 DR. OYIGU’S MISPLACED WAR OF ATTRITION.
Let it be put on record for the Public to know Why Dr. Oyigu was always engaged in consistent disagreement with the National Executive Council (NEC) when he acted as BOT leader.The following are the major causes of the issues:
i. That as a Member of the first Trustee, he is the personal “owner” of ICDA.
ii. He has not been able to manage his integrity. It should be the best global practice that no organization’s Board of Trustees has power to spend or execute any project without the consent of the Executive Council (EXCO) but Dr. Oyigu, at one time, prodigally spent N500,000.00 without EXCO’s involvement. The EXCO, therefore resolved that the Secretariat enquire from him why he did so. But characteristic of the mature leadership qualities of the President, Alh. Abubakar Amodu Sadiq, the Memo was shelved in order not bring the integrity of Dr. Oyigu, into Public disgrace
and place ICDA leadership in disrepute.
iii. Non participation in ICDA programmes.
Dr. Oyigu withdrew from ICDA programmes long ago. There is no any activities of ICDA, he has participated after inauguration, such as the Ero Oli Carnival, Igala Unity House fund raising ceremony at Anyigba, inauguration of the Nine local government area chapters at Ankpa , commissioning of Igala Unity House Anyigba etc. Let it be enquired of Dr. Oyigu if he ever participated in any of ICDA programmes, after series of invitation to him, largely and perhaps because his personal interests are not cowtowed. Even when we persuaded him, wrote a letter for him to lead other Members to inspect the Igala Unity House Project at Anyigba, he blatantly refused.
iv. No single record of personal financial commitment by Dr. Oyigu and his co-travellers who were releaved of their Board membership as they care less of how ICDA could survive without money, their own way.
v. Incompetence.
Dr. Oyigu is hereby challenged to provide any policy document that his leadership ever forwarded to the EXCO for executive attention. None. Wheres, the Board is saddled with the responsibility to formulate policies and Programmes that could move the Association forward but nothing like that from Dr Oyigu but he kept fighting truculently against the progress of ICDA; destructively
disagree with executive and diplomatic policies and all that could be done objectively.
vi. It is also against the vBye Laws of ICDA that a member of ICDA Trustees should not belong to any other Igala socio-cultural organization to avoid conflict of interest. But ICDA found out that Dr Oyigu particularly belong to many Igala Associations and a Board Chairman of OjujuAgbadufu Igala, which he largely formed, in his bid to thwart the progress of ICDA.
The current leadership has steadily enjoyed cordial relationship with the Ata Igala paramount authority and associated traditional Institutions. So, the orchestrated lies of a purported dissolution of ICDA National EXCO was mischievously calculated and traded to cause disaffection among Members, as no communication on such matter was ever transmitted to the Secretariat, nor personally to the President, as being mischievously portrayed and publicized by Oyigu. However, we realized that Dr. OYIGU’S led attempted Fragmentation and or Factionalization Team sponsored and massively paid for publications in several media organizations but ICDA is too big to listen to such illegal and kangaroo publications.
8. POST AGM ANALYSIS
Democratically, it is on record that The Delegates from their respective States and local chapters were not carried away by any indiscriminate publications, as most of them already arrived Anyigba for the popular Meeting tagged: 2019 AGM.
The AGM went well with Dr Oyigu and two other members of the Board conspicuously absent without any message or apologies.
8.POST DELEGATES MEETING AT ATA’S PALACE.*
After a successful Delegates Meeting, the ICDA President led the National EXCO Members to the Ata’s Palace precisely on the 14th August, 2020 to meet with HRM Attah Igala and our meeting with him was very successful. Meanwhile it was surprising to meet a spuriously selected Committee set up by Dr Oyigu and led by Elder Samuel Oyibo to be introduced to Attah Igala by Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo. There and then, His Royal Majesty, the Ata scolded them against impersonation and Factionalization, as well as distanced himself from any purportedly constituted interim committee and would not recognize such arrangements. The current leadership of our great Association hereby appeal to elders to confirm this from those present at the palace on 14th August, 2020 to say exactly what Attah told them. J K Umaru was there, Onu Igala Lokoja and Elder Samuel Oyibo were there.
All ICDA differences with thevAttah were reconciled on that faithful day.
This rendered the purported letter of dissolution null and void.
9.ACCOUNTABILITY AND STEWARDSHIP.
On the issues of accountability of ICDA NEC activities- The integrity of the current leadership of ICDA is unprecedented in the history of Igala leadership, which is being demonstrated by the current EXCO Members.
As earlier stated, Dr Oyigu does not have any moral stand to demand for accountability because he that seek for equity must have his hands clean. You don’t ask for what you don’t give.
10. BROTHERLY APPEAL.
We want to appeal to Dr Oyigu through our highly respected Igala Elders Forum in Lokoja to be patient. Let’s stop this fight for the interest of our fatherland. We should also drop our personal interest and work sincerely for the land. It’s high time for us to learn from our past mistakes. We should have learnt about what kept us behind among the comity of ethnic groups in Nigeria and we must go back to the root if we must get solution.
The speech of the President, during the inauguration of Professor Stephen Ocheni led BOT on the 27th December, 2020 at Igala Unity House Anyigba, it will be realized that the input of Dr. Oyigu was appreciated. However, he should also try to believe in others because no one can do it alone. He should stop listening to people that are beating the drums of war and he is dancing to their tune, as enemies of the land and People who benefit from crisis situations to score political gains and penchant for Mammonism.
We are transparent and have no hiding Agenda. The elders can advise us on the way forward for peace and progress. ICDA election is coming up this year and if anyone is interested in participating, kindly indicate and join us to move forward.
There are so many other responsibilities that Dr Oyigu and Co can help us handle in ICDA and I humbly appeal to him to sheath his sword and cooperate with Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni-led BoT and other Members of the Board as well as the current National Leadership of ICDA for the overall interest of our fatherland and People.
This is our humble submission and advice that our Royal Fathers be consulted at home because we always work with them to reach out to our people.
Please, any exolanatory word used in this Rejoinder, is for Purpose of Crystal Clear Presentation and buttress of the facts and truth and not by any means intended to hurt anyone.
11. SUGGESTIONS ON THE RESOLUTION OF THE ONGOING TUSSLE.
We want to appeal to Dr Oyigu through Igala Elders Forum in Lokoja to be patient. Let’s stop this fight for the interest of our fatherland. We should also drop our personal interest and work sincerely for the land. It’s high time for us to learn from our past mistakes. We should have learnt about what kept us behind among the comity of ethnic groups in Nigeria and we must go back to the root if we must get solution.
The speech of the President, during the inauguration of Professor Stephen Ocheni led BOT on the 27th December, 2020 at Igala Unity House Anyigba, it will be realized that the input of Dr. Oyigu was appreciated. However, he should also try to believe in others because no one can do it alone. He should stop listening to people that are beating the drums of war and he is dancing to their tune, as enemies of the land and People who benefit from crisis situations to score personal gains.
We are transparent and have no hidden Agenda. The Elders can advise us on the way forward for peace and progress. ICDA election is coming up this year, as whoever has the interest of the Land and People at heart, is free to participate
There are so many other responsibilities that Dr Oyigu and Co. can help us handle in ICDA and I humbly appeal to him to sheath his sword and cooperate with Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni-led BoT and other Members of the Board as well as the current National Leadership of ICDA for the overall interest of our fatherland and People.
This is our humble submission and advice that our Royal Fathers be consulted at home because we always work with them to reach out to our people.
Please, any exolanatory word used in this Rejoinder, is for Purpose of Crystal Clear Presentation and buttress of the facts and truth and not by any means intended to hurt anyone.
Abdullahi O
baje
National media officer ll ICDA.