The Igala Kingdom and the Imperatives of an Economic Summit

The Igala Kingdom and the imperatives of an Economic Summit
By
Joshua Ocheja

The Igala people constitute the major ethnic group in Kogi state, strategically occupying the eastern axis. Idah serves as its traditional home and houses its paramount ruler, Agabiadu, Attah Aliyu Obaje, who actively communes with the “Gods” of the land on behalf of his subjects, hence the conjecture by historians that Idah is the ancestral home of the Igala’s.
The Igala man is regarded as intelligent with a brave heart. This can be traced to exploits recorded by Igala sons and daughters from time immemorial, which also dates back to the years of Atta Ameh Oboni of blessed memory, who wielded enormous powers and influence in the then Northern Nigeria.
The quintessential Igala man is creative, views issues from a broad perspective, is a blend of strength and perseverance, embraces the doctrines of Togetherness (Udama), Love (Ufedo), Truth (Ogecha) and Peace of Mind (Uredo) as ingrained by our forefathers. He sees and utilizes every opportunity available, while focusing on surpassing standards.
In recent times, we have descended from the once enviable position of the second richest Native Authority after Kano Native Authority during the colonial era, to the second poorest economy in the country. Whereas Kano has maintained its pivotal role as the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria, Idah and the whole of Igala land have continued to experience decline, with dilapidation and increasing poverty.
It becomes a case of what went wrong, when it is on record that the first commercial export from Northern Nigeria was through Idah port.
There however can be light at the end of the tunnel but only if and when proactive measures are embraced. I belong to the school of thought that believes that the solution to every problem lies in the inside of it.
We cannot bring about the much anticipated Igala renaissance in this generation, if the current trend in our polity is not arrested. Our leaders owe us a duty to go back to the drawing board, and to retrace their steps in preparation for a mindset re-orientation. They need to reflect on the level of decadence in the Kingdom.
There must be a consensus amongst the stakeholders of the imperative to objectively address the socio-economic and political problems currently afflicting us.
The major step to addressing this is the convoking of a people centered Economic Summit that leads to an Igala Development Strategy (IDS). The IDS should set in motion the machinery that will translate our dreams and aspirations into sustainable realities.
An Economic Summit that will point a way forward for the Igala race. A summit that will set Igala land in a specific positive direction, a summit that will indeed articulate a definitive agenda for where Igala land should be in a decade, century and a millennium.
A summit that will marshal strategies that will manifestly translate the peoples hopes and aspirations into tangible realities. A summit that will lay a rock-solid foundation for the much awaited Igala renaissance. One that will advocate and inspire confidence in the viability and sustainability of investments and the abundant resources in Igala land.
The proposed Igala Economic Summit will encourage and foster the ideals of unity, peace love, as worthy basis for individual development and continued corporate existence, that will evolve sustainable, economic and intellectual structures to train and equip the generation-next. The Igala Economic Summit: Harnessing Potentials for Development.
Joshua Ocheja is a multi-media advertising practitioner, writer and publisher. He is a member of the Igala Economic Summit Steering Committee.