By Isah Idris
The Paramount ruler of Igala Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Gabaidu Mathew Alaji Opaluwa (Oguche Akpa 11)
has appealed to Nigerians to desist from actions that could negatively affect the country.
The traditional ruler made the appeal at a two-day Italo annual festival which ended on Saturday at the Prince Abubakar Audu University stadium Anyigba, Kogi State.
The Atah Igala admonised Igala sons and daughters at home and in diaspora, to close rank in the task of building unity, love which had been the source of strength of the kingdom.
The Chairman of the Italo festival, Dr Paul Ahmodu commended the traditional ruler for his proactive leadership exploit that led to the revival of the Italo festival, earlier suspended as a result of disagreement in the last seven years.
Speaking on the history of Italo, Ahmodu lauded the efforts of previous Atah Igala including late Gabaidus Ogwuche Akpa and Atabo Ijomi, the duo that tackled the colonial masters in 1919 which resulted in the establishment of Italo and consolidated in 1932.
He charged Igala sons and daughters particularly, the political elites to learn from their past mistakes by desisting from politics of greed, thuggery, self enrichments.
“The greatest burden of Igala Kingdom today, is politics of greed, thuggery, blackmail, self enrichment”
Dr. Usman Obaje, the Ejeh of Dekina who led other first class chiefs in royal greeting to Gabaidu, thanked him for reviving Italo.
He acknowledged the Atah Igala for hispolicies of inclusiveness, gospel of peace, unity, security and zero violence.
