… Let Igalas close ranks – ISA
The Kogi State Chairman of Igala Cultural Development Association (ICDA), Deacon Godwin Idakwo, has dissociated from the purported annual general meeting and election organized by a group within the association.
Idakwo described the purported AGM and election of the association as “window dressing to serve the purpose and interest of the organiser”.
The State ICDA Chairman of the organisation disclosed this while on a courtesy call to the Chairman of the Incorporated Board of Trustees of the ICDA, Dr Omakoji Simeon Oyiguh in Lokoja on Wednesday.
He said the move ran foul of the convention and tradition of the apex Igala Association, adding that the state chapter was not in any way informed of it.
Deacon Idakwo, who made the visit to get the copy of the harmonised constitution for the new ICDA to emerge in the spirit of Igala speaking people, took a swipe on the erstwhile leadership of the organisation for causing confusion in the process, stressing that he was actively involved in the emergence of the former leadership that has expired.
He said crisis will not do the association any good, as such he urged all Igala speaking people to operate on the podium of unity and love to make things work better for Igala land, on whose behalf the association claims to be defending its interest in all fronts of human endeavour.
He assured the Incoporated BoT Chairman of his support in his quest to reposition the association to move Igala nation forward, adding that he and his executive members will study the harmonised constitution and make their inputs as it affect Igala nation.
He, therefore, urged the leadership of the socio-cultural association to do things in tandem with laid down procedures to avoid rancour and acrimony, for “the battle is to reposition the lgala people into the scheme of things, not to satisfy few individuals’ interest.
In the same vein, the National Secretary of the Igala Students Association (ISA), Comrade Onoja Attah, sued for peace, advising the leadership of the socio-cultural association to close ranks and speak in one voice to redress the new narratives which has made the Igala nation to lose its voice in the scheme of things in the present equation in the country.
He assured the Incorporated BoT Chairman of the association of his unflinching support of any move that will bring the Igala nation to be a force to reckon with, as the present situation has left sour in the mouth of Igala speaking people in Kogi, and the country at large.
Assuring that he will deliver the copy of the harmonised constitution to all the student groups from the flank of the state to study and make their contributions for virile and flexible constitution to evolve, he said that the leadership of all Igala cultural associations should strive to speak in one voice for the land to move to the next level.
In his remarks, the Incorporated BoT Chairman, Dr Omakoji Simeon Oyiguh said it is no longer business as usual, assuring all that he is out to strengthen ICDA for Igala to take its place among comity of great ethnic nationalities in the country.
He said the Incorporated Trustees leadership cannot fold their arms and see wrongs being done in the association to the detriment of the Igala people, stressing that the people needs a constitution of Igala content that will carry the voice of all for collective decision and action for a better Igala nation.