Umbrella; yes the Igala people have several names for it, viz, Unyale, Ibulada, Olena, etc, is a buffer against unfavourable, but natural phenomena such as rain, hot sun and in the Igala lexicon, a symbol of nobility, royalty or dignity. Most Igala royalties use umbrellas of various shapes and sizes as status symbols. Most importantly in its figurative sense, it is a symbol of commonality, patrimony and bond of agreement. Occupants of a common Umbrella can never be enemies, nor two strange bedfellows; they are apt to be birds of the same feather flocking together or at least have surrendered their differences momentarily for smooth sailing.It becomes a public show of dirty linen should any feud or fracas break out. It becomes a monumental shame if reason can not prevail, to the peril of those under the umbrella, why the holders turn it in different directions. Even the blind, the deaf, the dumb will react if leakages, or outright scorch continually rubbishes their one shelter to extent of fiasco. At about, 1979, all Igala ethnicity surrendered their pockets of shelters coming under the bigger canopy christened Igala Cultural & Development Association, ICDA, at the instance or endorsement of Agabaidu, Attah Igala, Aliyu Ocheja Obaje. Since the proclamation, the ICDA had coordinated Igala people and Igala community based development projects under successive leaders.The Big Umbrella has been infected with internal crisis, to wit; the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees over policy direction, such that it has lost gripping of Igala people and the extant Igala based socio- cultural organisations and even emergent ones. It is grossly divested of power, management and control.
It’s glaring that both the organisation and its structure are moribund and beyond repair. Igala nation and peoples ought to be greater than ICDA, but the scenario is to the contrary; albeit, Achẹrẹ tọgba. Ọrọ agba ti Onu Oko leni, the former must bow or be uprooted.
Moving forward, the need for holistic reorganisation of ICDA is an imperative.
ICDA Constitution must be reframed to expressly reserve sovereign powers in the Attah- Igala-,in – Council. Agabaidu should reserve the exclusive power to proclaim the Constitution, and determine in-Council the tenure of any sitting Exco upon writing by the Board of Trustees. Tenure of Office of any seating Exco must be one-off tenure of 4 year
The new Constitution must provide for Igala Parliament ( Anuku Ayegba) comprised of maximum number of two persons from Igala based professional bodies -Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, Professors, retired Army Generals, Police and equivalent in para- military; two members of registered soci-ocultural Organisations ( with ICDA): A member each representing Igala Area Local Government Councils( preferably ). The Parliament should have a tenure of 3 years, and a return term of two tenures.
ICDA leadership should majorlly be reserved for retired Officers of Directorate cadre and equivalent in private endeavours. Actors in ICDA should be people who have resolved to divest themselves of partisan politics or hold any political Office while with the soci-ocultural Organisations. ICDA Constitution should provide for internal conflict Resolution mechanism with Agabaidu in – Council as the highest Court in all matters. There should be a standing body of Arbitration to resolve conflicts relating to public offices in the Land.
Agabaidu in Council will do well to ensure that ICDA’s role is exclusively on traditional and cultural matters. Igala based soci-ocultural Organisations must have a specialised and approved sphere of operation.
The autochthonous and pan- Igala ICDA that will lead the way through the over due Igala Renaissance Movement must be above board. This is the only way to go in the present circumstances. We certainly need a Big Umbrella by whatever name, which must be charismatic enough to carry all along and, pragmatic enough to bell the Cat.
