24TH OGWA IKA: IKA TRADITIONAL RULERS SLAMMED FOR SILENCE ON KIDNAPPING
By Patrick Gbuchanye
The 24th edition of Ogwa Ika hosted by Igbodo Kingdom in Ika North East Local Government Area on Saturday, August 17, 2024, called for synergy and total commitment in the fight against insecurity in Ika land, such as kidnapping.
The event had in attendance Ika traditional rulers, religious leaders, political office holders, delegates of Ika Communities, and unions both at home and in the Diaspora.
Also, as reunion in the brotherhood of Ika-speaking (Onu Ika) communities, the Enogie of Oligie, His Royal Highness Lucky Chukwuma Osunde III, Enogie of Ottah, His Royal Highness, Dr. Julius Chukwuyem Isitor and Enogie of Idumuodin, His Royal Highness Blessing Igiebor alongside their delegates were equally present at of the epoch-making event.
The Ogwa Ika was organized by Onu Ika Nigeria (the mouthpiece of Ika Ethnic Nationality) and it remains a unifying force for Ika Communities and groups who come together annually to deliberate on ways forward for a peaceful and progressive Ika nation.
The highlight of the annual event was the deliberation on the programme theme, “Insecurity in Ika Land; Election and Poverty in Ika Land”. It also featured the prizes and awards given to the winners of the annual Ika Ka Mma Annual Essay Competition for secondary school students in the area.
Responding during the deliberation on insecurity, the Ika South Council Chairman, who is the Chief Security Officer of the LGA, Hon. Jerry Ehiwarior, said there was a need for the traditional institutions to get more actively involved in the search for lasting solutions to the menace of insecurity in Ika land.
According to him, “In our search for a lasting solution to kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in Ika land, we need to seek the support of our traditional institutions to assist us. Our fathers must be involved, and they should seek ways to deal with the issue using the traditional approach.
“Our royal fathers must show deeper commitment in this fight against insecurity in our land. Their fatherly role is needed at this point,” he stated.
Hon. Ehiwarior also called for the input of religious leaders in the area, adding that their support would go a long way in solving the challenges.
While noting that insecurity was hampering socio-economic activities, especially farming, across Ika land, the chairman said his administration was ready to support all efforts and suggestions aimed at ending insecurity in the local government area.
On his part, the Ika North East LGA Council Chairman, Hon. Odigwe, also harped on insecurity in Ika Land, which, according to him, has created so much hunger because the people can no longer go to their farms.
According to him, “We need everybody to be involved in achieving the collective security of Ika Land”.
He equally lends his voice to appeals to Ika traditional rulers and religious leaders to work hand in hand with the Government and the people in tackling the insecurity menace. Hon. Odigwe further called on the traditional rulers to collaborate and build a united front between communities in Ika Land in the fight against the herdsmen. He pledged to give maximum support to the local Vigilantes and other security agencies to help bring a secure Ika nation where kidnapping would be a thing of the past.
The Bishop of Ika Anglican Communion, Rt. Revd. Godfrey Ekpenisi, who coordinated the deliberation on insecurity in the Ika nation, applauded the various reactions, which, according to him, remain effective tools in addressing insecurity in the Ika land and environs.
See Also: CUSTOMARY RULES OF SUCCESSION AND INHERITANCE IN IKA WORLD
Speaking with journalists, the chief host of the 24th Ogwu Ika, HRM Barrister Ikechukwu Nkeobikwu Osadume 1, the Obi of Igbodo Kingdom, said, as usual, that they have had successful deliberation. He pleaded that it should go with implementation immediately to address the insecurity in the Ika nation.
Early in his address, the Head of Collective Leadership of Onu Ika Group, Elder Daniel Usifoh, stated that the group, in its 36 years of existence has been very focused, impactful, progressively productive, and proactive in the affairs of the good People of Ika ethnic nationality.
Continuing, Elder Usifoh highlighted the achievements of the group under his leadership from 2012 to 2024 as the reinstatement of the Ika Language Department in the College of Education Agbor; (after 20 years of suspended Accreditation), advising and advocating for the upgrading of the College of Education, Agbor to the Status of University because of dwindling intakes for NCE Students, sponsorship of Ika Students in College of Education for Ika Language studies after the reinstatement; facilitated the re-accreditation of School of Nursing Agbor, initiated and Published Ika Dictionary in 2017, compilation of “lka Names and their meanings”, national enlistment of lka Ethnic Nationality in Abuja (2014) as one of the over 400 ethnic minorities in Nigeria and; he Assertion/emplacement of Ika Ethnic Nationality as one of the seven (7) major ethnic groups in Delta State, intervention and settlement of discord among and within the Kingdoms and Bridge building within Anioma and Beyond.
He said the achievements also include the constitutional review otherwise known as Restructuring, lka Positions articulated and presented in Case 1, APC EI Rufai Committee, Case 2 Distinguished Senator Omo-Agege Committee and Case 3 Current Constitutional Review, Sensitization of 9 local Governments in Delta North Senatorial District on irregular Migration, Human Trafficking and Human Organ harvesting courtesy of Delta State Government, Mbiri Fish Farm Cluster Rehabilitation and management courtesy of Delta State Government which Work is in progress, Pressure on NEPA on power supply to Ika land from Irrua to lka Land, Onu lka intervention (with Public Fund Raised on appeal) for the Victims of Gas fire incident in 2020, Onu lka coordination of Covid-19 TCF loans, Onu Ika assistance in equitably distributing of Covid-19 palliatives from Hon. Victor Nwaokolo within his Constituency, attendance of biannual lka USA diasporan Conventions, sustenance of Ika Essay Competition amongst secondary schools in Ika Land sponsored by HE. Dr. Arthur Okowa, decongestion of Central Hospital Agbor Mortuary, pressure on the Governor on the completion of Old Lagos/Asaba Road, and the stand of Onu lka PERSPECTIVE on Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko’s proposed Bill on the Creation of ANIOMA State which according to him is work in progress.
In conclusion, Elder Usifoh disclosed a plan to carve out the Youth Wing of Onu lka to ease its workload and for efficiency. He, therefore, announced Mbiri Kingdom as the next host for 2025 Ogwa Ika.
The event also witnessed Elder Usifoh introduce his 1st Deputy Head of the Collective Leadership of Onu Ika, Chief Edwin Osuhor from Umunede to take over leadership.