Use your network to develop Igala land, Attah tells Uk’Omu Igala

The Attah Igala and President, Kogi State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, James Alaji Opaluwa, has called on Igala sons and daughters to activate their social, political, and economic network to develop Kogi East Senatorial District, the home of Igala-speaking people of Nigeria.

The paramount ruler made the call at the weekend when the Executive Committee members of Uk’Omu Igala, the apex socio-cultural and political organization, led by its National Leader, Mr. David Abutu, paid him a courtesy visit at Idah, Kogi State.

Attah Igala urged the delegation to use their network to harness the mineral resources in Igalaland in order to bring about development and create employment for the teeming youths who languish in poverty and frustration due to lack of jobs.

The Attah Igala and President, Kogi State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty James Alaji Opaluwa (middle), Mr. David Abutu, National Leader, Uk’Omu Igala (left), and former National Leader, Uk’Omu Igala, Major-General Patrick Akpa, during Uk’Omu Igala Organization’s visit to Attah on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Idah, Kogi State.

According to him, “Igala land is blessed with more than 65 percent of natural resources found in Kogi State. However, most of them remain untapped, and for those being tapped, we are not deriving maximum benefit from them. I believe you have the capacity to bring about development in Igalaland if you are united and passionate about it.”

Some of the mineral resources in Igalaland in commercial quantities, most of which are yet to be exploited, including crude oil, iron ore, coal, kaolin, gold, marble, magnetite, apart from arable land for cash crop production. Already, as a result of the crude oil in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State, the Federal Government has included Kogi State among oil-producing states.

Attah Igala and President, Kogi State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty James Alaji Opaluwa, blessing members of Uk’Omu Igala Organisation at Idah at the weekend.

His Royal Majesty called on Igala sons and daughters to embrace peace and unity among themselves, eschew bitterness, political violence, greed, and pull-him-down syndrome, which have hampered development in the senatorial district.

The National Leader of Uk’Omu Igala, in his address, congratulated His Royal Highness for assuming the royal throne of his ancestors and pledged the support of the group to Attah Igala.

Mr. Abutu said, “Uk’Omu Igala’s objectives include engendering political, economic and social development in Kogi East Senatorial District. We engage in programmes and projects that will lead to political education and participation, economic empowerment for the underprivileged, and fighting for the rights of Igala people, to ensure we take our proper place in the Nigerian nation. One of the projects that are in the offing is Inikpi Radio, meant to facilitate dissemination of beneficial information, education, and entertainment for the people of this geopolitical region.”

Some delegates who visited His Royal Majesty included Major General Patrick Akpa (rtd), a former National Leader of Uk’Omu Igala, Dr (Mrs) Rakiya Abaji, Deputy National Leader, Dr. Sabestin Abu, National Secretary, Princess Vera Otimi Olive, National Woman Leader, Alhaji M. K. Audu, National Financial Secretary, Mrs. Vivian Idama, National Treasurer, Dr. Theophilus Abbah, Director, Media, and Publicity.

Attah Igala and President, Kogi State Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty James Alaji Opaluwa, speaking to members of Uk’Omu Igala Organization at Idah, Kogi State, last weekend.