By Christopher Sunday
It is in the public domain that the Attah of Igala, HRM Matthew Okpanachi, proscribed the Igala Cultural Development Association on January 24, 2023, due to her lack of integrity and misleading the entire Igala race. This move, too, is not unconnected to the misappropriation of the association’s funds and outright disrespect for the highest Igala throne.
This order by the Attah is not the first; it is recalled that Aliu Obaje, the late Attah, had stopped the same association from conducting their AGM due to misappropriation of funds. In the same vein, the BOT of the so-called ICDA had in January warned one Mr. Sadiq against parading himself as the president of the ICDA. In her statement, the BOT, through the Director of Publicity, ICDA Board of Trustees Secretariat, Momoh Alaji Okutepa, said the Executive headed by Alhaji Sadiq Amodu Abubakar was proscribed by the former Atta Igala before he went on a hunting expedition. Okutepa averred that this position was reaffirmed by the current Atta Igala on assumption of office.
According to the statement, in spite of the warning, Alhaji Sadiq Amodu Abubakar has continued to parade himself as President of the ICDA.
The statement reads in part: “The Board has therefore resolved to draw the attention of the general public to discountenance any statement or directive from the proscribed ICDA exco under the leadership of Alhaji Sadiq Amodu Abubakar.
It is important to note that His Royal Majesty Mathew Alaji Oguche Akpa, Attah Igala, called a meeting in his palace with the erstwhile Executive of ICDA under the leadership of Alhaji Sadiq Amodu Abubakar and the Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Commodore (RTD) A A Abdulai and directed Alhaji Sadiq Amodu Abubakar to hand over the activities of ICDA to the Caretaker Committee.
It is important to note that the dissolution of the Executive Committee was communicated personally by Atta Igala to their ears, while the executives did not contest this at that meeting.
The problem between the BoT of ICDA and some mischievous executives didn’t just start today. Recall that in 2020, the Daily Post gathered that there was lingering internal wrangling between the Board of Trustee (BOT) and the National Executive Council of the ICDA, which prompted the Attah of Igala to suspend the AGM meeting slated for August 1, 2020.
In its place, the paramount ruler of the Igala nation, HRM Michael Ameh Oboni, endorsed a caretaker committee to resolve and steer the affairs of the association until elections are conducted.
Tension gripped the people of the eastern part of Kogi State following the decision of the dissolved national executive of the Igala Cultural Development Association, ICDA, to hold this year’s AGM. This was despite the directive of the Attah of Igala, HRM Ameh Michael Oboni 11, that it should be suspended.
Also, Daily Post findings revealed that in defiance of the Royal Majesty’s order that the scheduled AGM of the dissolved Sediq Amodu NEC and BoT of ICDA be suspended, they went ahead to hold it, disrespecting the royal order. The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward David Onoja, and a handful of his core loyalists were in attendance.
It was further learned that, desperate to go ahead with their programme as scheduled, the dissolved Sediq-led ICDA executive came up with a statement purported to have emanated from Attah Igala to counter the earlier order.
The said circular, which favourably disposed of the dissolved NEC, allegedly had a forged signature of the secretary of the Igala Area Traditional Council, claiming to have been written on behalf of the Attah of Igala, and that his earlier letter, which announced the suspension of this year’s AGM, which took place on August 1, 2020, has been set aside.
From the above reports, it is obvious that the ICDA, led by the so-called Mr. Sadiq, has been in the business of political selling and buying in the Igala Kingdom. This is obviously seen in the fake and unrealistic endorsement of Muritala Ajaka as the consensus candidate in the Igala race for the November 11th governorship election.
The truth must be told; our people deserve to know the truth. Everyone knows that Muri has serious litigation around his academic qualifications and some shady deals between him and the governor of the state. Coupled with the desperation of the occupant of Lugard House to install his stooge, the ICDA ought to have known better that the Igala race must project a candidate with a wealth of experience and academic qualifications to be their governor and national leader.
Insulting our sensibility with such an oiled-hand endorsement against our collective wish is an insult taken too far.
On this note, we call on all meaningful Igala people to reject that hypocritical endorsement by the already proscribed group. What is expected of any reasonable group or person at the moment should be the manifesto and plans of candidates. The best, not the free-pocket candidate, should be supported.
The Igala nation will surely vote for a competent person who will harness the potential of the state and change the present narratives.
Christopher Sunday
Media Coordinator
Jibrin/Olamife Campaign Council.