I believe that our strength as Igala people is in our togetherness and unity. A people, striped of all kinds of differences and divides, but obsessed with one goal, can overcome any kind of obstacle. Our people say that that there is blood in the stomach, but it is only the saliva we spit. By that, allusion is made to the fact that it is not everything that is in the mind of a person that should become public knowledge.
Indeed, there is wisdom in understanding that not everything we know or think needs to be expressed verbally or in writing. It is important to exercise discretion and discernment when choosing what to communicate to others. This notion reflects the understanding that silence can be a powerful tool and that the quality of our thoughts and actions often matters more than the quantity of our words.
It is important I draw attention to this, given the passionate and zealous concern we generally give to all other issues, which are not directly connected to the core issues of the development of our dear Igala people. It is a public knowledge that we all belong to different political parties and religious beliefs. But when it comes to the development of Igala, all other differences and divides pale in significance to the greater mission of ensuring our communities develop and progress.
Being a forward looking people, we must carry our wisdom in our head, and not in our mouth or pen. What matters is fighting for the interests of the people of Igalaland, doing everything in our power to ensure that we attract the best possible opportunities and interventions to our communities.
By carrying wisdom in our heads, we emphasize the importance of communal growth and self-reflection. It encourages us to cultivate knowledge, insights, and understanding within ourselves, which can guide our thoughts, decisions, and interactions with others. Wisdom, in this sense, becomes an intrinsic part of our character and shapes our behavior, rather than being simply spoken or written words.
That is not to say that we should not express our thoughts. By every means, we should do so. But the purpose of this platform is precise: the development of our people. Let’s focus on that with everything we can, and several other issues will be taken care of eventually. It is a balance between knowing when and what to speak and when to remain silent, recognizing the appropriate time and place for sharing wisdom and contributing to the collective understanding.
I believe that Igalaland has a greater mission: the overall development of our people in all spheres of life. Let’s focus on that.
Chief Sylvester Momoh Onoja, OON, NPOM O’doma Ata Igala Imane
