The equation of uniting the people for development has been hard for most of our leaders to solve, especially in Igede land. Let me not talk about our elected political leaders whose robes are reckless, rude, lousy and flamboyant. I think they should learn from a self-regulated and coordinated umbrella youth body–Ito National Youth Forum (INYF), under the leadership of Comrade Lion Ogbu John Ogbu. After all, if they use the money they received because of the mandate we gave them, it will enhance their opportunity for another term in office. But either pride or ignorance will not allow then to relate with people that will tell them the actual value of X and Y and when to do the multiplication or addition. With their money, they think everything in the equation is subtraction or division. I will return to that at the end of the article if my mind permits.
When people are engaged in physical and social interaction, love and oneness are nurtured, emotional cohesion is planted, and it gives rise to a bonding that evaporates vices. The INYF saw a need to bring ITO people together outside the religious activities for an event tagged “Ito National Youth Forum Football League”. It was an assemblage of upcoming talents and a means of uniting the people for an all-round development.
Ito National Youth Forum (INYF), with a motto ‘Unity and Development,’ organised a football league with FIFA standard fixtures divided into zones where people played home and away with points: Zone A comprises - Adiko, Obeko and Orihi; Zone B- Ogore, Obarike, Adum West, Ikwokwu, Okpokwu and Irabi; and Zone C- Okwutungbe, Odiapa and Itogo. At the end of the maiden edition: Zone B came first, Zone A second and Zone C third. Great INYF, accept my congratulations and wish you more of this for the sake of the unity and development of Ito and Igede in general. Thank God, I married from Ito because, by my last check, the previous two organised in Oju were hijacked and never reached finals. The one organised by Hon. Egbiri Idaah was riddled with irregularities from the officiating team. My Oju people, no deliberate provocation and disregard intended–just a fact check.
One thing that got my attention is the contribution of Comrade Ajiga Ogbile; his partnership role saw the tournament to its excellent outing. We should have more partnerships from well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies across Ito or Igede land. Let me task a few families in Ito–Chief Ajene Okpabi, Chief Oga Eba, Chief Isaac Ikpa, Chief Okwute and Chief Ipenyi, we want to have a memorial football cup or scholarship foundation to immortalise these sages, and I am very sure their progenies are well positioned and able. Accept my best wishes and challenges. I implore the leadership of INYF to constitute a committee that will reach out to these families with a measurable, achievable and realistic proposal.
I call on our leaders across Igede land to press on the two Local Governments to revive the “Chairman’s cup”. I also call on individuals to raise trophies for competition as it will boost our unity and diminish youth edginess.
Thanks greatly, Ito National Youth Forum, for SOLVING THE SIMPLE MATHS–the unity equation that is too complex for some political leaders. Wisdom is an asset as experience is not built with blocks, so integrity is not bought with money, and history is not made for stories only. Keep on showing consistency as a FORUM and be more innovative than ever.
Lots of love from Ekurwe: Igede watch.
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