The Politicization of Igede Agba revealed: Real Reason Senator Patrick Abba Moro was not invited for this year’s Igede Agba ceremony…

The Igede Agba ceremony is a significant cultural festival celebrated by the Igede people of Benue State, Nigeria. It is their traditional way of welcoming the harvest of new yam to their homes as yam is considered the king of all farm produce in Igede land and many other communities around Benue State. This revered festival is held annually, and in every September, specifically on the first “Ihigile market day.

However, this supposed harvest of cultural festival supposedly meant to foster unity among the Igede people, create sociopolitical discourse between political office holders, and foster development advocacies for the Igede people, has become increasingly politicized as few Igede people in places of authority have highjacked the beautiful cultural festival and now determine who and who should be invited for the ceremony.

For instance, the paramount ruler of Igede land, Adirahu Ny’Igede, His Royal Highness, Chief Oga Ero, CP rtd, and other members of the Igede traditional council were excluded from any knowledge of the programs of events since the organisers claimed this year’s Igede Agba festival is sponsored by the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia. But, should such invitation be denied political opponents or perceived political adversaries?

The politicization of the Igede Agba festival raises serious concerns about the erosion of cultural heritage and the manipulation of traditional institutions for political gain that clearly demeans the collective strength of the Igede people.

While this year’s “Igede Agba” ceremony was being held on September 6, 2025, at The Pavilion in Oju, Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, one significant face that has championed the course of the Igede people at the National Assembly was conspicuously missing. And while invited guests and spectators were being thrilled by different cultural troops, some concerned Igede youths took to their King to ask why the distinguished Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Senator Abba Moro was conspicuously missing with his name not included in the program brochures.

To their shock, the Chief revealed that the organizers, led by Hon Cyril Ekong, had deliberately excluded members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the program. This decision was allegedly made to avoid offending the governor. As a result, too, traditional rulers were not given the program of event until the ceremony started.

The Chief told them that they, the Council of Chiefs, was not included in the committee that arranged the program since the Governor and Hon Cyril Ekong highjacked the festival and made it clear that no members of the Peoples Democratic Party are invited.

From my investigation, it is clear that Hon Cyril Ekong, the Deputy Majority Leader of the Benue State House of Assembly, from Oju, the Chairman of Oju Local Government Council, Hon Jackson Silas Onminyi, his Obi Local Government counterpart, Hon Silas Odeh, and the new Commissioner, Dr Peter Obo Egbodo, forcefully insisted that neither Senator Abba Moro nor anyone from the PDP should be allowed to feature on the Igede Agba program in other to satisfy Gov Alia, their benefactor. these few politicians have equally highjacked this cultural festival from the traditional leaders of the Igede kingdom who were conceptually the chief custodians of this tradition.

The exclusion of traditional leaders and prominent figures like Senator Moro literally undermines the festival’s purpose, if you ask me.

The truth is, betraying a traditional heritage of a people on the ground of selfishness by some separatists and divide-and-rule actors calls for serious concern, especially if the festival was meant to bring people together, foster development and advocate sociopolitical engagements to better the lot of the Igede people.

Nevertheless, now that Governor Hyacinth Alia has taken over Igede Agba, it is my hope that he also takes over the dilapidated roads, the dilapidated schools, the decayed health care system, the incessant killings and kidnapping and other forms of insecurity bedeviling the people of Igede nation.

The people of Igede deserve better governance and more inclusive representation, and I understand that whoever has the powers to influence Igede Agba as such should also have the powers to change the cause of their living standards for the better.

Apeh Peterhot observes from Ofiri-Ejorgwu Shrine in Ugbugbu, Owukpa, Benue State.