ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA
The second edition of Nupe Lokoja Native day off on Saturday 21st December with public lecture and the display of the rich cultural heritage of the Nupe aborigines of Lokoja
The Etsu Lokoja, HRH. Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda Shelika – Nyamkpa 1V, made the disclosure at a Press Conference held on Thursday in Lokoja to herald the Cultural Fiesta .
The monarch described the event as significant landmark to project Lokoja in its true colour and for it to be said as it should be.
The Traditional Ruler who went down memory lane, said Lokoja was not born at the advent of the British colonialists.
He revealed that the colonialists met Lokoja with records showing that they met people, said what the Natives are seeking, is for recognition and to be part of the political equation in the state
The Nupe Native Cultural day, the Traditional Ruler said will parade the art, crafts, music, fashion, traditional wrestling, magical stunts and masquerades of the Nupes.
He pointed out that this year’s edition will be a little louder, have more content and have a deeper fascinating ways of the Nupe natives of Lokoja than what was witnessed in the first edition.
The Traditional Ruler described Lokoja as a home of peace and hospitality, called on the Natives to continue to love their co-settlers by ensuring that the friendship that exists amongst them is sustained.
He said Lokoja is a community known for its rich culture, however lamented that for close to two centuries, the natives have never been in the equation, and have been relegated politically, socially and tagged nonexistent people
While pointing out that even though the Nupe Natives were the earliest settlers of Lokoja, they are not contending with the fact that there has been systematic transformation of Lokoja, particularly now that it has become a cosmopolitan town.
The Etsu expressed satisfaction with the development Lokoja has witnessed over the centuries, described it as a sign of progress.
According to the Etsu, It is only in good places that you have people want to go and reside, expressed satisfaction that today you have everybody wanting to come to Lokoja, said, “We are richer than it was in the Past”.
The Etsu said “We want the society and government and everybody to know that we exist. That we are not in control of anything now does not mean we don’t exist. We are however saying now that whatever is supposed to fall to us as Natives, should be given it to us”.
“Don’t treat us as if we are not there. We want to have a fair share. Get attention from Government. The public and everyone who cares. We should not be sandwiched as subservient people”.
“No we are not subservient. We are a people who are independent. We have over time governed ourselves as a people. We are people who are here and need every recognition due to us”.
“We want to be able to identify ourselves”. It will be wrong for someone else to tell whether we the Nupes are indigenes or Natives. It becomes very difficult for someone to tell us our story of who we are”.
“We want the government to please recognize us as the earlier settlers and to also recognize and grade that our old existing stool of the Etsu Lokoja”.
“We also want to have a direct access to government to enable us discuss our own interest by our own selves. We do not want to have a go between. We are the ones wearing the shoes and know where it pinches us. We want to tell our issues by ourselves”.
“We want to be able to participate in the affairs of government, like security matters and the architecture, because we may have information that is useful”.
“Also in the local Government Traditional Council, we want to be a part of it because we are a community of people, spread all over the place and town. If you look at other cosmopolitan, the natives are never sidelined but are made important players in the system”.
