Igala cultural organization drums support for national registrations

The Ukomu Igala, a socio-cultural association for the promotion of the Igala kingdom, has described the mass participation of the people in the ongoing continuous voters registration, national identity card and national population census as an instrument to advance the cause of Igala nation.

This was disclosed over the weekend at Abejukolo, headquarters of Omala Local Government Area, of kogi state by General patrick Akpa (Rtd) during the advocy visit for the registration of CVR, National Identity Card and NPC Area Demarcation exercise by members of the Association to the area.

General Akpa who is the president of the Association lamented that the Igala nation which used to occupy the number nine position in Nigeria in terms of population has been systematically decimated due to nonchalant attitude of the people to these exercises that will make them competitive in the Nigeria project.

He added that unless there is a conscious effort by the stakeholders to make the people to see reasons with the participation in these exercises , the Igala nation will continue to lag behind.

He advised that the only instrument to participate in a general election is to have a voters card hence, one cannot demonstrate his love for his constituency and the candidate without the card.

” The Igala nation has suffered setback in the Nigeria state. We were very strong in the past through our numerical strength, but we began to loose influence , because we did not pay attention to vital registrations.

“We use to maintain number nine position in Nigeria, but we were orchestrated down the lines, which has affected our voice and our clamour for national patrimony.

And unless we change our attitude to begin to look at where we were in the 60s and where we are now, other nationalities will continue to override us.

“Therefore, I urge all Igala sons and daughters to be more committed and dedicated to the cause that will advance our potentials and strength in the national scheme of things and we can only achieve this by making sacrifice to ensure all eligible persons are captured in the ongoing exercise. ” He pleaded.

While emphasizing on the power of population in an election, stressed that the group through personal sacrifices has committed their resources to embark on sensitisation visit to all the nine LGAs in the East senatorial zone of the state to arouse the consciousness of the people to these exercises.

Speaking in the same vein, the House of Assembly member representing Omala, Hon. Aliyu Akuh, commended the association for their bold step in educating and creating awareness among the people.

The paramount traditional ruler, Mr. Boniface Musa, commended them for their effort at reawakening the consciousness of the people to the importance of the exercises assured them of the royal fathers’ commitment to ensuring every one is captured.