President Buhari, Please save Igala land from insecurity

An Open Letter to President Muhammad Buhari by Ufedo Foundation of Nigeria

President Muhammad Buhari

Dear Mr President,

INSECURITY IN IGALA LAND (KOGI EAST) 

AND CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE 

We wish to call your urgent and immediate attention to the current spate of crime, killings and mayhem in Igala land. The hit squad has a tripod of FULANI HERDSMEN, KIDNAPPERS and MURDEROUS THUGS as anchors.

TRIPOD 1:  MENACE OF HERDSMEN:

Until very recently, the Igala people and Fulani herdsmen lived peaceably but gone seems to be those days following the multiple acts of war and mayhem being unleashed daily on innocent farmers and law-abiding citizens in their villages, homes and farm lands. 

For instance within the space of Mid-2015 to now, Igala land has witnessed several incidences of killings as a result of herdsmen violence in several areas including Ebeje where 8 people were killed and farms set ablaze, Agbada/Agojeju where 19 people were slaughtered, Edede – 2 persons were killed, 6 people killed in Oganenigu, 3 people killed in Ojapata, 5 people killed in Ojuwo Anawo. All these happened in Dekina Local Government Area. 

THE MAJESTIC FALL OF A SUPERNOVA (For James Ocholi SAN)

Tragedy is the new normal.

Upon our Igala nation

Upon the furrow of our eyes

Why is the charioteer of Ichekpa Ogene

Still welding its lethal blade of sorrow

Plucking off the stars from the Igala sky.

Where shall I rent tears to mourn you, James Ocholi (SAN)?

Have I not shed enough, mourning Prince Abubakar?

Oh grim reaper, or shall I do my crying in the rain? 

Especially for the Igala Nation at this time

By Tony Agbali

These biblical texts---Isaiah 58, and 2 Chronicles 27 and 28 speaks so much to me today about the global situation; the situation in my adopted homeland, USA; aboriginal Nigeria, and my natal homeland of the Igala. I am, however, fixated with the Igala nation.

And being Lent, the meaning of these make sense even all the more. 

The lesson is eternal and lucid: You cannot pray and fast and expect results if your actions does not match what God's expects---compassion for others, sympathy and care for the weak and vulnerable. 

You cannot blatantly act arrogantly and poise insolently--especially against God and treat others shabbily, thinking your being is better than their being, and pride on contrasting persons based upon "them" and "us" and you expect to be honored. Those who act justly like King Jotham will be honored, those who act like the arrogant and odious King Ahaz will be dishonored. 

James Ocholi: Time For Righteous Anger!

By Phrank Shaibu

March 6th, 2016 was another  bad day in Nigeria for road users and its nation’s leadership. Indeed, If put in candid and fearless perspective, it will remain a vital remembrance day that Nigeria citizens ought use to ask its leadership to conscientiously examine its concern for their safety on the roads.  

The referenced day, best described as Black Sunday recorded the dreadful loss of Barrister James Ocholi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, erstwhile Federal Minister of State for Labour along side his dear wife, Blessing and son on the Kaduna Abuja Highway. 

The late James Ocholi was a major player in the ruling APC party of Nigeria but he humbly exemplified the traits and values of a patriotic Nigerian by abandoning his personal political ambition of being a potential first citizen of his state and many lucrative commercial interests to honour the call to National duty as Minister. Perhaps, as a reciprocation of God’s blessings upon him, he dedicated his special passion and unique talents to serving his God and expressing generosity to many people. 

KOGI: Under Wada, it was business unusual

By Abu Mike.

The recent global economic recession has shown that the task ahead of leaders who govern there state's is no doubt tough and arduous. Little wonder many analysts are of the view that with the contrasting state of revenue allocation from the federation account, commendation must go to Captain Idris Wada the Kogi State Governor for his prudent use of resources.

Regardless that opposition politicians would climb over the mountain to smear the person of the Governor, Capt Idris Wada, needs to be praised.

Recent revelation has shown that in an attempt to improve infrastructures, and to also impress the people, the future of several states in the country has now been mortgaged.

In Lagos State for example, Raji Fashola left a debt of over N500 billion in his hand over note. Similarly, Sule Lamido in Jigawa State handed over a liability of about N200 billion. In Kebbi state, Rivers and other States, the figures is still in dispute as some of them will for the next hundred years to come continue with debt repayment. 

I'm leaving behind a N44.46 billion debt for Kogi - Wada

The Kogi State governor, Capt Idris Wada, on Thursday, said his administration would be leaving behind a N44.46 billion domestic debt in the state.

Apart from this, the governor said he inherited N38.38 billion as debt when he assumed office on January 27, 2012.

Wada, who said this while giving an overview of his administration at the Government House, Lokoja, the state capital, however, said over 42 per cent of the debt totalling over N18 billion was outstanding gratuities to retirees that had accumulated since the creation of the state in 1991.

According to him, N5.5 billion was outstanding payment from the N8 billion drawn from the infrastructure bond approved for the state, adding that N2.9 billion was being owed commercial bank.

Igala let's think

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”  Mark Twain

If power shifts to either the West or Central, I don’t think the world will come to an end. The chaps from the West and Central are not aliens. They are Kogietes and Kogi ought to be an equal opportunity state. 

If you ask me, we should leave the scene; go back to the drawing board to articulate the economic and political agenda of the Igala race. This can come in the form of an Igala Leadership and Economic Summit.  

There we will sit down and deliberate on the leadership and economic challenges of the Igala Nation and suggest the way forward. I recall sometime in 2009, Igala Project did set up a committee to host the first ever Igala Economic Summit. I was privileged to be a member of that committee. 

Discontents and whining of the Igala nation

Once in every decade, someone of princely bearing comes along among the Igala to light the way for the people, challenging the falsehoods, misrepresentations, tired and faulty narratives of our leaders in recent past as pre-condition for changing the present and the future.

In spite of the dent in the armour of late Prince Abubakar Audu’s personality, he was a goal getter, a pace-setter, an achiever and passionately focused on the Igala cause. With his death the last chapter of that resilient class of Igala nation builders is finally closed. 

Who will not be filled with nostalgia remembering the likes of Chief Stephen Achema, Chief Ura Ajibili, Chief Andrew Abogede to mention a few. These were patriots whose legacies and passion are unmatched. Their death send us anew some celestial cues to go back to the drawing board as a people and re-invent a system of Igala political leadership that can deliver.

Kogi governorship impasse and the way forward for Igalas

I woke up this morning with a very heavy burden on this subject matter and decided to relieve the burden and as well seek for way outs from my brothers and sisters on this platform. 

A lot have been said but I dare say we are yet to see a win-win solution especially as far as the Igalas are concerned. I will like to present my intervention below and plead that you painstakingly go through it.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, please permit me to recall the following:

That the election was held on 21/11/2015 and that the election was declared inconclusive on Sunday 22/11/205. 

The arrest of Alh Salami Abdullahi (ASTA) and the perpetual silence of Igala elites

Dr. Mohammed Nazeef Yunus is facing trial alongside Alh Salami Abdullahi

Indeed this world is a small place and no one is an island, we all need each other to survive either you belong to the class of proletariat or bourgeoisie. 

It's pertinent to say it here that the Igala nation is gradually fading out in the scheme of things in Nigeria and it's not devoid of fear, envy, hatred and selfishness. 

Alhaji Salami Abdullahi (ASTA) was arrested on the 26th October, 2013 from his Anyigba residence over an allegation associated with terrorism, yet for over two years no  substantial evidence was found against this innocent man of proven integrity.

Alhaji Salami is from a humble background and hard-working with determination which has taken him to the peak of his carrier. The following questions are begging for answers:

Igala: Speaking in discordant tunes

The Igala nation is the 9th largest ethnic group in Nigeria with abundant potentials both in human and natural resources yet we are lacking in so many things.

For one, leadership is one of the greatest problems the Igalas have had over the years, this forms the fulcrum from which the Igalas have been having "Kpangolo balls " a kind of dance that has no direction. 

We have no cohesive leadership that would lead us effectively; Stephen Achema would have been one but he was cut short at the time he tried to find his bearings. Those we had looked up to had failed us in one way or the other.