DAN EJIH Esq.: ACH’ERE T’OGBA (ANON) – THERE WILL BE A TOMORROW SO WE MUST FIX TODAY.
There will be a tomorrow, that is why we must fix today for a grandiose tomorrow. “Chukwuemeka Ike, a famous Nigerian novelist and Author of ‘Our Children Are Coming” underscores the need to be conscious of the next generations in the values we espoused. Everything is continuously in motion. Bongos Ikwue, the Nigerian Soul Musician in his album: “Something Good ‘ aptly puts it that “…what goes up must come down”.
The truth is, perpetrators of wrongs have always been on the run, for two things: possible sanctions for the wrong done, and from the time of reckonings. Power grabbing has always been unfortunately at costs, and sordidly at casualty in our climes, much as it is aliens in our annals of history. It behoves the civil and lily livered to call for truce, especially if it is fraternal fracas. The aggressor’s pie may not be satisfactory, because the rule of the might by its nature is exclusion, and so, there won’t be equitable appropriations. Most often, participants are left at the corridors, when only the mighty scrambles at the realm. In all, it is time bound, transit and effusive. The Offender deserves forgiveness, for once in sobriety, the individual returns to reason and regret. There may be no express confession for reason of ego, even at let the injured show strength in civility.
There is always a stage, where the victor and the vanquished; the winner and the wounded return home to roost in one family situation. This is because they are of common ancestry patrimony, and above all are governed by reason. The scenario is called reconciliations, peace building and forward movement. Parties do so for ethical considerations; for interest of future generations and for sustainable developments.
For the Igala ethnicity, and all Kogi peoples, there is no better time to meet at Anukwu to settling scores, heal wounds and drink from same bowl than now. This is because, we must all manage the space, stay together and salvage our heritage. Reflection must be on the lessons derived of the bitter past with no option to peace: the beautiful bride.
Feuds of the immediate past were broadly speaking, not the contest for political power between parties per se, but it’s ripple effects on extant community peace, family unity and social relations amongst ethnicity, peers, faiths and within faith. The methods were ‘un-Igala’, so is bitterness. It was scary; it sent many away from homelands, many others to muteness, and to inconvenience corners.
Refugees must return home to remaking common patrimony. There is no place like sweet home. And because many exiled themselves, miscreants turned the fief to voodoo market, where they raid communities and extort individuals in scramble for zones of operations.
Our ancestral abodes have become den of kidnappers, thugs and extortionists in organised forms. Values have suddenly collapsed; ends justify the means. There are avalanches of forced suitors and forced marriages or co-habitations, cultism has become incident of power and wealth; no more Village square and Town Hall meetings, because no one dare says opinions. Our youths haven been stripped of their futures are misguided and have become gullible of how not to dare existentialism.
Anon to parley, there is sudden black out foisted on humanity, our homelands and the future. The future looks dark, very dark and gloomy, if nothing is done to solicit and elicit forgiveness. Igala people must not pass this way to Golgotha, and must rise to say “never again”.
The Igala ethnicity would have presented a most prized gift to the new Agabaidu in realm, avowing to ensure unity at the dawn of a novel era of Igala Renaissance.
DAN EJIH Esq, is a trained Mediator & Conciliator, an Advocate of Peace Alternative
