Iwaji Ohuhu 2024: Your culture makes you who you are…Chief Dr Maduabuchi Gabriel
Calls on Igbos to embrace their culture no fetishness in new yam festival celebration
Iwaji Ohuhu 2024 : Your culture makes you who you are …Chief Dr Maduabuchi Gabriel
… calls on Igbos to embrace their your culture, no fetishness
in new yam festival…
By: Sam Obinna Ibe
Umuahia.
Last Saturday,31st day of August,2024,the traditional rulers in Ohuhu celebrated their 2024 Iwaji ceremony held at Umuagu Central School,Ohuhu in Umuahia North local Government area of Abia State.
Ohuhu 2024 Iwaji ceremony had all the trappings of what can be regarded as a success story. It attracted the physical presence of Who is Who is Ohuhu land, ranging from the Chairman of the occasion,His Excellency, Chief Ambassador Empire Kanu,(Ikoro Ohuhu) to Chief Onyenma Ugochukwu,(Ikoro Ohuhu)the member representing Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano Federal Constituency,Hon Obi Aguocha, member representing Umuahia North state constituency,Hon Barr Kelechi Anderson Akaliro.
Others are the traditional rulers of Ohuhu land led by their Chairman,His Royal Majesty,Eze ( Bldr) Charles Chionye Ngwu,Egwu11 of Umuegwu Obiohuru Afugiri Autonomous Community,to the Chairman, Umuahia North Traditional rulers Council,HRM Eze Innocent Nwigwe ,to Chairman,Iwaji Ohuhu 2024,HRM Eze Kingsley Nnadozie Emekobum,to others who had led Umuahia North Traditional rulers Council, in the past,HRM Eze Pastor Ambassador Philip Ajomiwe,HRM Kingship ,Iheanyiukwu Nkwokenna.,to HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu etc.
Other notable traditional rulers who were in attendance included: HRH Eze Uzo Nwosu,HRH Eze Bob Aguocha,HRH Eze Akabuike,HRH Eze Paul Uhegbu among others .
In his brief opening remarks,the Chairman of the occasion,His Excellency, Ambassador Empire Kanu said that Iwaji ceremony is an age long Igbo tradition that signpost the harvest of the newly planted yam from the farmland.
Ambassador Empire Kanu added that he was happy that Ohuhu people were celebrating their 2024 Iwaji ceremony while praying to God to keep all Ohuhu sons and daughters alive to witness and celebrate that of 2025 and beyond.
Speaking at the occasion,Hon Chief Obi Aguocha thanked his people for celebration of yet another new yam festival in good health and prosperity.
Hon Aguocha who decried the spate of destructive criticisms meted out to his person as the representative of Ikwuano Umuahia federal constituency noting that he will not hesitate a second to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of the federal constituency.
He further explained what he has been doing as the people’s representative at the National Assembly while promising not to disappoint the people.
In an interview with journalists during Ohuhu new yam festival tagged,Iwaji Ohuhu 2024,
Chief Dr Maduabuchi Gabriel,the President General,Ohuhu Welfare Union, International,USA lauded his Ohuhu people for the succsseful celebration of Iwaji Ohuhu 2024.
He called on his people to embrace agriculture by planting yam for bountiful harvest especially so as hash economic realities are staring everyone in the face.
Answering questions from journalists on some of the christian members that believe that celebration of new yam festival is fetish therefore brethrens in the christian family should not participate ,Chief Dr Gabriel Maduabuchi said that there is nothing fetish in new yam festival, adding that he is a child of God and does not participate in anything fetish but at the same thing,he loves his culture.
Chief Maduabuchi noted that anybody who shy away from his culture is assumed to have lost touch with his identity as a person.
According to him “I ‘m a child of God,I love my culture, anybody who shy away from his culture is assumed to have lost touch with his identity as a person.if you don’t love your culture it means that you are taken away from your culture.
On his art,the President General of Ohuhu Welfare Union, Chief Dr Okechukwu Uwazie appreciated Ndieze Ohuhu for officially declaring open the celebration of new yam festival in various components that make up Ohuhu land.
Ohuhu President General also appreciated the award bestowed on him by the Ohuhu Council of Traditional rulers noting that the award will spun him to put extra efforts to reposition the clan.
Chief Uwazie however promised good leadership, quality representations to foster peace in Ohuhu land.
He said,”They have been disturbing me to take this Chieftaincy title for the past three years now, this award will challenge me to work more for the betterment of Ohuhu land .
The President General of Ohuhu Welfare Union further disclosed that Ndieze Ohuhu gave him a Chieftaincy title,which means that it has increased his work as the President General of Ohuhu land,by the grace of God,that he will live up to the expectations of all and sundry.
On his part, Chief Surveyor Uzoma Ekworomadu also expressed his heart felt gratitude for the recognition by Ndieze Ohuhu noting that he was formerly recognized at the home front as ” Ebube Mba Ekeoba but today ” Ebube Mba Ohuhu conferred on him by Ndieze Ohuhu which means his people are appreciative of the fact that he is doing very well in his chosen carrer and business.
“I feel great,I honoured for your people to recognize you,that means that you have been doing well” Chief Surveyor Uzoma Ekworomadu said.
He added that the newly conferred Chieftaincy title will spun him to work very hard in order to contribute his quota towards the development of the community.
Ebube mba Ohuhu also called other illustrious sons and daughters to join hands with the leadership of Ohuhu land in order to take the community to the next level of development.
He revealed that the celebration of new yam festival is significant because it shows bountiful harvest of last year planting season.
Whereas Chief Uchechukwu Udeji ,ohia ahuru Agu 1 of Umuagu commended Ndieze Ohuhu for deeming it fit to organize Ohuhu 2024 Iwaji ceremony.
He told journalists that what makes Iwaji Ohuhu 2024 significant is that after the official performance of first cutting the yarn and eat,that other villages that makes up Ohuhu will start to celebrate in turns.
Chief Udeji make case for his Umuhu people to be given the opportunity to present a sellable candidate granted that Okaiuga brothers had already taken a shot at the coveted seat of Umuahia North council area in the past in the person of Hon Chidiebere Nwachukwu.
He challenged Ohuhu people to entrust the mandate of representing them as the next Executive Council Chairman of Umuahia North LGA to his care while promising not to disappoint them as the youngest youth amongst those nursing the ambition.
The highpoints of the Iwaji Ohuhu 2024 was conferrement
of Chieftaincy titles to deserving sons of the land,match pass by some Ohuhu women,cutting and sharing of new yam after officially declared open , cultural dances etc .
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