By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, last weekend graced the 2024 New Yam Festival of HRM, Pharm Uzo Alex Onyido, of Ogidi.
Joining the Traditional Ruler to celebrate the age-long annual New Yam Festival, Chief Nkwoka, who is the front line All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Idemili North Chairmanship Candidate for the fast approaching Local Government Elections in Anambra State, promised to partner with relevant stakeholders to uplift and uphold the culture and tradition of Idemili North, as well as revolutionize Agriculture to enhance food sufficiency and production.
The chief servant of the most populous and densely populated Council Area of Anambra State, noted that the New Yam Festival was an Igbo Culture, saying that the yam was highly respected in Igbo Land as the most prominent staple food.
‘Yam is highly regarded more than other crops in Igbo Land. If someone eventually steals yam, after punishing the person, the person would perform some traditional rituals to appease the gods. This shows you how important yam is in Igbo Land.
‘So, we don’t toy with the festival of New Yam. In “Things Fall Apart”, there’s a particular side New Yam festival of Ogidi was highlighted. Igbo Culture is not idol worshipping. Clean heart and uprightness is culture. There is no idol worshipping in New Yam Festival. I cherish our culture and tradition,’ he said.
The APGA candidate who was accompanied to the celebration by APGA Idemili North Chairman, Chief Lemmy Ekwo; and the councillorship candidates for Nkpor Wards l and ll, on the platform of APGA, Hon. Samuel Anikpe; and Hon Nzubechukwu Oraekwotu, respectively, called those claiming that there was idol worshipping in New Yam Festival to disabuse their minds of such negativism, saying that they were not well informed in Igbo Culture. He asserted that some cultures were brought and introduced to discourage Ndigbo from practicing their own tradition.
Receiving the Chairman in his palace, HRM, Pharm, Onyido, explained that the New Yam Festival, known as Iri-ji Ohu, was a revered celebration that promoted Igbo Cultural Heritage and weaved together spiritual and cultural significance, reinforcing the people’s connection to their heritage, forefathers and the divine.
The monarch noted that the festival was part of a massive agricultural revival among the community to reawaken their agricultural consciousness to tackle the looming food crises amidst increasing prices of commodities.
He urged youths who were fast abandoning Agriculture for white-collar jobs to make a U-turn and embrace Agriculture to improve food production to eradicate hunger and food crises, which, he said, deliberate measures should be put in place to check the menace.
Pharm Onyido commended the Transition Committee Chairman for making out time to identify with him, acknowledging that the council boss had shown humility and kind disposition.
The Royal father also said that Nkwoka’s transformative leadership within the shortest period of time in office had changed the narrative and placed him above every other contender, stating that he had touched so many lives positively, especially the people of Idemili North.
The ceremony which took place at Igwe’s palace began with a Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, Ogidi, Rev. Fr. Dr. Aloysius Agba.
Fr. Agba described Igwe Alex Onyido as a humble, peaceful and prayerful monarch who led his Kingdom with the fear of God.
He urged the people of the town to always pray for the monarch and support his good work for the greater good of Ogidi Kingdom.
The event was graced by Ndi Ichie, Igwe’s cabinet, Umuada, friends and well-wishers, youths, as well as sons and daughters of Ogidi community.