ICDA inaugurates BOT; as Edward Onoja charges members on reconciliation »

It was an atmosphere of pump, hugs and back tapping as the apex Igala socio-cultural organization, Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA), inaugurates its board of trustees headed by a renowned professor and former minister, Prof. Steven Ikani Ocheni as Chairman.

The inauguration ceremony which held at the Igala Unity House in Anyigba today drew illustrious Igala dignitaries from within and outside the state, including the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja and the Igala traditional council led by its acting chairman and Ejeh of Dekina, HRM. Alhaji Dr. Usman Obaje.

In his welcome address, the ICDA President, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq thanked all stakeholders for their support and prayers. He said the day’s gathering is a pointer to the unity and brotherliness which the ICDA frontiers in the Igala Kingdom.

He said the inauguration of the board was the first since the establishment of ICDA, adding that the efforts of the late Atta of Igala, HRM, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II and other well meaning Igala sons and daughters have led to the breaking of another jinx in the unification and development drive of the ICDA.

Sadiq informed that members of the BOT were made up of representatives from across the nine LGAs of the Igala land.

“Members of this board are people of proven integrity who have reached the peak of their chosen careers.

“The mandate of ICDA is to unite the Igala Kingdom and attract the needed development while upholding the cultural ethos of the Igala people. A mandate that we are making significant progress on”.

Sadiq noted that the first unity project of the current ICDA was the establishment of the Igala Unity House, and thanked the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Chief Edward Onoja and all other stakeholders for their contributions towards the actualization of that unity project.

He hinted that the next unity project of the ICDA was the revival of Italo festival which he described as a core unifying factor of the Igala Kingdom, and appealed to other socio-cultural groups to work with ICDA for a collective realization of the Igala objective.

Guidance, Advice, Reconcile: Onoja charges ICDA BOT

Delivering his speech, the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja commended the leadership of ICDA for their tireless efforts in uniting Igala kingdom and attracting development to the land, adding that posterity will be fair to them.

Onoja noted that the current leadership of ICDA has within their three years in office, recorded feats unprecedented in the history of the association, stating that the establishment of the Igala Unity House which used to be a refuse site for decades is one of the fundamental achievement of the current ICDA executive that history will never forget, explaining that it takes leadership to achieve such a feat.

“Under your leadership, you advocated for Igala Kingdom to be energized. Today, the Project Light Up Kogi East in ongoing.
You also asked for the return of Ocho festival, that is also a reality today. You have severally called government’s attention to the issues of security in Igala land and government is responding according.

“Use your tenure to return Italo festival, even if that is the only thing you can achieve for the rest of your time in office. We as humans cannot repay you, but let posterity and history record it that between the year 2017 and 2021, there ware a set of executive that made the ICDA an association of value” Onoja added.

He charged the newly inaugurated board to perform three roles of guidance, advice and reconciliation, saying that the Igala Kingdom needs to come together to achieve more development for the land.

Onoja however cautioned the board to avoid pushing reconciliation with those who have made up their minds to always disunite the people, adding that they can only take the horse to the stream, they can’t force it to drink water.

The Ejeh Dekina, and Acting Chairman, Kogi East Traditional Council, HRM, Alhaji Dr. Usman Obaje said the ICDA belongs to all Igala sons and daughters worldwide and called on all to join hands in ensuring its success.

He expressed joy over the inauguration of the ICDA board, adding that the task that took several years to execute is now a reality. He appreciated the fatherly role played by the late Attah of Igala, HRM, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II which resolved the crisis that rocked the association few months ago, and called on those still nursing whatever displeasure to drop it and unite for the betterment of the association and the land.

Dr. Obaje, appreciated Governor Yahaya Bello for his continued support and contributions to the development of Igala Kingdom.

Speaking on behalf of members, Chairman of the BOT, Prof, Steven Ikani Ocheni appreciated the ICDA executive led by Alhaji Amodu Abubakar Sadiq, the Igala traditional council and other stakeholders for finding them worthy to serve, and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Ocheni made a commitment to bring his experience to bare to achieving the ideals of the ICDA which includes uniting the people and attracting positive developments to the land while promoting the Igala cultural values. He added that the first assignment of the board would be a broad reconciliation initiative, and called on all Igala sons and daughters to embrace peace as no nation can grow in an atmosphere of individualism and lack of cooperation.

The Chairman said the current leadership of the ICDA has recorded quite a number of achievements which included a befitting national secretariat with modern facilities.

He acknowledged the numerous contributions of Governor Yahaya Bello towards the realization of the Igala Unity House, and commended the special role played by the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja in mobilizing resources for the completion of the project.

Ocheni urged member of the board to avoid actions and utterances that encourages division, and focus on being great ambassadors of Igala land by uniting to bring positive development to the land.

He, on behalf of the board assured the people of Igala Kingdom of their dedication to service, adding that they will rely on the cultural institutions to achieve the goal of positive development.