By Pascal Oparada
Social Media/Tech Reporter
The red cap and the Isi Agu attire are only indigenous to the Igbo in Nigeria.
Analysts believe that, unlike in 2015, when the Southwest held the ace in who wins the election between President Buhari and former President Jonathan, the winner of the 2019 presidential election would be largely decided by the number of votes each candidate get from the southeast, which makes up the Igbo.
The Igbo are one of the few tribes in Nigeria with republican orientation. No central authority guides them. Igbo Ezue means they reach decisions by consensus, instead of a single authority.
Their tradition is guarded with fierce jealousy. And they are the most travelled of all the tribes in Nigeria.
Wherever they go, they take their customs with them. Iwa Ji or Iri Ji, the new yam festivals, which herald the harvest season is a time to showcase the traditions in Igbo land.
At these occasions, the Igbo tradition is in full display. It is not uncommon to see titled men (the Nze, Ozo, Ndi Eze) and other holders of various titles in Igbo land put on the Isi Agu, which is a mark of dignity, royalty and importance.
In other to woo this outgoing group of people, politicians of all classes have adopted a subtle way of getting their attention both at home and outside the Igbo land.
It is not uncommon, therefore, for politicians to want to wear the Isi Agu attire in order to impress them and lure them to vote them in elections.
The trend is common during elections. Many people believe they are soon abandoned immediately after.
Because the Igbo are almost everywhere, politicians in their various areas where they live to use the Isi Agu in order to draw them into aligning with them politically.
From presidential, governorship, state to national assembly members all put on the Igbo regalia in order to impress.