The Attah Igala and President of Kogi State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty,Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche Akpa11, has Inaugurated a 15-man committee to organise Igala annual festival, Italo, after eleven years of being put on hold.
The Igala national festival initiated over a century ago to revive the tribe’s cultural values was put at abeyance in 2011 when politicians turned the venue in Anyigba into a theatre of political campaign and violence. Inaugurating the committee in his palace at Idah , the paramount ruler urged the 15-man committee to ensure that the venue of the cultural renaissance is not turned into an arena for political campaign and violence as experienced over a decade ago.
According to the monarch, members of the committee were not just chosen to reflect the geographical spread of Igalaland, they were also selected based on their character, expertise, and ability to deliver on the age-long mandate of Italo. It is an annual assembly of Igala people at home and diaspora, initiated by his forebears to re-evaluate and project culture and language threatened by globalization.
The royal father approved the 30th and 31st of December 2022 for the festival and maintained that Ayingba would continue to play host to the fiesta to enhance all-inclusive participation.
He urged the committee to hit the ground running immediately as it has limited time to reach out and organise a successful fiesta.
The members of the committee include Chief (Dr) Jonathan Okpanachi ( Ofu) chairman, Mr. Donatus Okpe (Olamaboro), Professor Armstrong Audu( Idah), and Mr. Salifu Adejo (Igalalamela), Mrs. Charity Achimugu (Dekina/Ofu), Mr Barth Ademu( Ankpa), Mr. Silas Omale(Dekina) Dr. Paul Egwemi( Ibaji), Mrs. Agumage Onuche-Adejo ( Igalamela/ Ankpa), Mrs. Blessing Ikwuji (Olamaboro,)Mr. Peter Ebiloma ( Dekina) , Hajia Lami Usman ( Dekina), Mall Shaibu Umar Angulu (Bassa) and Alhaji Usman Okolo ( Dekina).
His Royal Majesty advised the committee to ensure that it is in regular consultation with the four palace chiefs which include former INEC Resident Commissioner in-charge of Niger State, Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Onucheyo(Ohimogbolo Ata), Ajofe Ibrahim Atadoga (Inalogu Ata), Chief Suleiman Igano( Emakoji Ata), Chief Jacob Ocheni (Odoma Ata), Chief Shaibu Iyaji Ogaji ( Onu Ega/ Egene Ata).
Chief (Dr) Jonathan Okpanachi is the Chairman of, Italo Planning Committee and Mr. Donatus Okpe will serve as the Publicity Sub-Committee Chairman.
