By Kadiri Abraham
January 10, 2019
YALA – TodaY, in the Council Hall of Yala L.G.A., Cross River
State, the young people from Igede, who were part of the meeting convened by
the People's Democratic Party stakeholders, cried aloud over the spate of
marginalization being meted out on them. The meeting, which was held to discuss
issues bothering on the forthcoming General Election, had many timbers and
calibers from Yala, in attendance.
In the course of the meeting, appointees and stakeholders from
the different wards across Yala, which consists of 14 wards, spoke as they
reviewed the government of Senator Professor Ben Ayade. While some stakeholders
boasted of having over ten appointees from their wards, wards such as Igede and
Gabu wards continue to wallow in marginalization.
I watched the faces of my fellow Igede brothers and sisters as
some appointees glow proudly, while they outline the enormous dividends of
democracy they have and are reaping from the good governance of His Excellency,
Governor Ben Ayade.
What I could read on the faces of my brothers and sisters were
despondent, downcast people who have nobody they could look up to for
assistance. To worsen the matter, it was announced; right in the course of the
meeting that SUBEB List of successful candidates would be released later in the
day. I don’t think the name of any Igede young man or lady was recommended for
such appointment. To stair up the anger further, we heard more names have been
released for appointment. While young people began to receive congratulatory
calls and messages from families, mentors, friends and well-wishers, Igede sons
and daughters watched with tears.
The question I asked God, right at the point was: “God, what are
the sins of the Igede man and woman?” What have we done to deserve this? Is it
that we do not have competent people that can fit into these positions? Tears
rolled down my cheeks and my heart began to bleed with chronic agony and pains.
But, right there, by introspection, I remembered I am a graduate – an outstanding
one for that matter, who has been job-hunting for close to a decade now. I
looked around the immediate environment and also observed other vibrant neglected
and marginalized young men from the different parts of Igede.
We are very grateful to His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade, who
has deemed it fit to award the major road in Igede: the U road from Ezekwe –
Anyadaha – Anyugbe – Opirikwu – Wanokom. Yet, the case of Igede in Yala LGA is
so pathetic that all parts of the Igede nation Igede-Edii, Gabu and Itakpa are
complete mirage, in terms of development.
I wish to take the Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, down
the memory lane, historically. Igede nation, major part of which is in Benue
State, have share common ancestor with Obudu, in the person of Agba. We were
very happy the day you won your primary to contest and became the flag bearer
of the great party, PDP. We were happy because we believed you are our own
blood. Before then, we followed with great interest, your landmark achievement
in the Senate. But, we could not communicate this to you because we do not have
Igede sons and daughter with loud voice that could permeate into the thick
fortress of Diamond Hill.
Due to the wave of continuous marginalization, the Igede man
tend to feel more comfortable hobnobbing with his compatriots in Benue State,
where marginalization seems to be minimal. We are blessed with intellectuals
across different fields of endeavours – we have professors, academic doctors,
Medical Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Economists, Geographers, business tycoons,
etc, who are doing well in their careers. However, they tend to do well outside
Cross River, where they are neglected.
What we need now, are jobs, empowerment, capacity building, qualified
teachers in our schools, good roads linking the various villages, electricity,
potable water, good healthcare centres and the likes. Our youths are renowned
for hard work, diligence and humility. The Igede people will remain grateful to
anybody – individual, group or government that will help us solve these
problems. When the above are resolved, Igede people will no longer be driven by
the winds of what I term: “The Western Exodus Syndrome” – the tendency of young
school leavers to migrate to the western part of the country in search of white
collar job. This has led to the depletion of our population, affecting us
socially, culturally, economically and politically.
Kadiri Abraham is a freelance writer.
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