By Abraham Kadiri (24/01/2022)
My attention has been drawn to the common error being made in Yala as it relates to the dispersed Igede ethnic in Cross River State.
People of Igede Origin are found in three wards in Yala – Igede-edii in Igede Ward, Gabu and Itekpa in Okpoma Ward. It is psychologically torturing and emotionally unpalatable to hear people call Gabu a tribe in Yala. For those who are ignorant, Gabu, just like Igede Edii and Itekpa is an ethnic group in Igede Nation, found in Benue, Ebonyi and Cross River. Nature, by way of geographical coincidence, has separated Igede people in Cross River, but the cohesive bond of fraternity still holds us together.
Igede, as a nation, is supposed to be treated as an ethnic group in Yala, Cross River State. When I hear politicians, even those of high calibre, making blunder, without recourse to history; it hurts the psyche and shatter the emotion of a typical Igede man. An average Yala man, without any rigours of narrative and with due respect, should be aware of the fact that Igede is a tribe in Cross River State. How will a Yala man feel, if you hear someone making reference to Okpoma or Yahe as an ethnic group or still Ukelle man hearing someone of Ukelle origin hearing someone calling Wanihem or Wanokom in Ukelle a tribe on its own.
I want to make it clear that this post is not borne out of any political inclination, but purely meant to correct the anomaly that is being paraded on social media and to disabuse the minds of those whose minds have probably been settled with this REVERSIBLE ERROR.
As a way of emphasis, Gabu (in Yala 1 Constituency), Igede Edii (in Yala 2 Constituency) and Itekpa (In Okpoma Ward, Yala 2) are commonly referred to as Igede and should be addressed as such and given their dues in Cross River, forthwith.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Comments