The paramount ruler of the Idoma nation, His Royal Majesty, Agaba’Idu John Elaigwu has called on his subjects to engage in activities that promotes the language and culture of the Idoma nation instead of foreign ones.
The royal father made the call Tuesday, when a former bursar of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and an expert in Idoma Language, Daniel Ugbabe, came to present his new book entitled “Eyiela Idoma Okonu Oyibo” (Idoma Words in English) to him at his palace in Otukpo Benue State.
Agaba’Idu Elaigwu, stated that the situation in which parents communicate with their children in English in preference to their native language was bad.
He commended the author, Daniel Ugbabe, for his bold step in venturing into writing books in Idoma language which he noted suffers acute shortage of literature.
According to His Majesty, “I commend you for your efforts in writing books in Idoma. This book will not only aid the teaching and learning of Idoma, but add to the few literatures in the language as well as promote the culture of our people”
I call on my subjects to follow the good example of Ugbabe, to revive our language and culture which are going into extinction due to foreign incursion.
“Most of our children don’t know how to speak and write in their mother tongue. This is bad; it must be reversed.”
Speaking earlier, the author, Daniel Ugbabe, said he was at the palace to present his new book “Eyiela Idoma Okonu Oyibo” to the royal father and to seek his royal blessings before its public presentation.
He decried the bastardization of Idoma language and culture by the younger generation due to foreign influence and called for a halt.
Elder Ugbabe, averred that his book is his modest contribution to the reversal of the ugly trend and urged all Idoma sons and daughters to join the crusade.
