Yahaya Bello commended for lifting embargo on five festivals

Uk’Omu Igala organisation, an umbrella group for all socio-cultural groups in Kogi east senatorial district, has commended Yahaya Bello, the state governor, for lifting the ban on five cultural festivals.

Patrick Akpa, the group’s national chairman, in a statement, listed the festivals to include Ocho, Egwu, Ogbadu, Ogaganyi and Iyalo.

According to Akpa, the religious-cum-cultural festivals were banned in the 1950s for political reasons.

Akpa said Bello’s action would revive cultural activities in Igala land and create economic benefits for the tourism sector in the state.

“The recent decision by Governor Yahaya Bello to de-proscribe five Igala traditional festivals which had been proscribed by the government of northern Nigeria in the 1950s has come as a pleasant and positive development in the state,” the statement read.

“The festivals include Ocho, Egwu, Ogbadu, Ogaganyi and Iyalo. These festivals were an integral part of the Igala culture, tradition, religion and were an embodiment of the social values, beliefs and ethics of our ancestors.

“They had been developed over hundreds of years by our forbearers and custodians of our traditional institutions.

“They defined the way of life of the Igala people, but the pre-Independence politics in the Northern wing of Nigeria, which was not comfortable with the self-confidence and decisive personality of our traditional leaders, led to their abrogation.”

Akpa said the ban on the festivals, which are supposed to be means of culture propagation, did “a lot of damages on our culture”.

He said many people were not aware of the existence of the festivals until Bello removed the embargo.

“Over the period when the festivals were frozen, a lot of damages were done to our culture. For one, cultural activities provide the essential connection between the old and the younger generations,” the statement read.

“They are the means of transmitting social values, beliefs, religions and customs from generation to generation.

“In this regard, we have noticed that most Igala sons and daughters born after the proscription of the festivals were not acquainted with the essence and spirit of these cultural activities.

“Many were not aware that these festivals ever existed, not to talk of knowing their significance. With their reintroduction, Igala sons and daughters would have to begin to learn the crux and nucleus of these festivals.

“While we commend Governor Bello for this encouraging step, we congratulate the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu (Dr) Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni II for initiating the process for the de-proscription of these cultural festival.”