Imeko Festival: Monarch Urges FG To Invest In Border Communities, Preserve Cultural Identity

The Onimeko of Imeko Land, Oba Benjamin Olanite, has called on the Federal Government to pay greater attention to the development of border communities, particularly Imeko, saying the area occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s border security and economic architecture.

Oba Olanite made the call while speaking with journalists ahead of the ongoing week-long Imeko Festival, which is expected to climax on Saturday.

According to him, the festival is not only about cultural celebration but also provides an avenue for indigenes to draw the attention of the government and the international community to the developmental needs of the area.

The monarch traced the history of Imeko to the pre-colonial era, noting that the community and the wider Ketu kingdom have historical, cultural and linguistic ties that predate the colonial boundaries separating present-day Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

He explained that the artificial boundaries created during the colonial period separated people of the same historical and cultural stock, making movement and interaction across the border more complicated.

The traditional ruler argued that residents of border communities should not automatically be viewed through the lens of cross-border criminality, stressing that legitimate cultural and economic relationships have existed among the people for generations.

He said:

“How can I be a smuggler within my own kingdom? The colonial masters did not study us well before putting the artificial boundary.”

The monarch also highlighted Imeko's historical connection with Nigeria's border security architecture, recalling that the Western Frontier Preventive Service, which later evolved into structures associated with customs and other border-security agencies, had a presence in the area.

He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to strengthen development in the border region through education, agriculture, vocational training and infrastructure.

According to him, communities in Imeko have historically contributed to the development of primary and secondary education through communal and missionary efforts, and the government should complement these efforts by providing tertiary institutions and other facilities.

He particularly called for greater government intervention in agricultural education and vocational training, saying the availability of vast agricultural land makes the area suitable for agricultural development.

The monarch also commended the Federal Government for ongoing road infrastructure projects linking the border communities, describing improved road connectivity as significant to the economic development of the area.

Oba Olanite said the roads would make it easier for farmers to move agricultural produce to different parts of Nigeria while also encouraging investors to establish businesses and factories in the area.

He stated that Imeko and surrounding communities had for years remained relatively underdeveloped despite their enormous agricultural potential, adding that improved road infrastructure was beginning to open up the area.

The monarch further appealed for attention to other infrastructure, including healthcare, education and federal agricultural institutions.

On the significance of the Imeko Festival, he said the event serves two major purposes: preserving the cultural heritage of the people and drawing attention to the developmental challenges confronting the community.

Onimeko said the festival would help younger generations understand the history, food, customs, traditions and way of life of their ancestors.

According to him, many young people no longer have sufficient knowledge of their cultural heritage because of changing lifestyles and modern education.

He therefore described the festival as an opportunity to reconnect the younger generation with the history and identity of Imeko people.

The monarch urged government agencies, indigenes, visitors and other stakeholders to support the festival, stressing that cultural preservation and community development should go hand in hand.

Oba Olanite added that the celebration would also provide an opportunity for Imeko sons and daughters at home and abroad to come together, strengthen their bonds and contribute to the development of their ancestral home.