Ndigbo has been urged to embrace their cultural values, to avoid some of their culture going extinct.
Speaking at the 2020 Iwaji celebration of the Ohuhu Clan in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia state, the Chairman,Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu,frowned at the level of disregard on our culture, particularly our Igbo language,saying that Ndigbo hardly identify with their fellow Igbo brothers or sisters with their mother tongue,unlike what is obtainable when the yorubas or Hausas meet.
Performing the Iwaji rites, a ceremony that precedes the Iriji festival proper, Eze Ofoegbu who is also the Traditional ruler of Umudiawa Autonomous Community, said the Iwaji is the first ceremony that must be done before the commencement of the Iriji proper.
The Iwaji ceremony is usually done in the house of the chairman of the Ohuhu Council of Ndieze, with the Village heads, Chiefs,Prime Ministers,Traditional rulers of all the communities in Ohuhu, community leaders,, as well as the President General, of Ohuhu Welfare Union in attendance.
Intimating the Press why the event is significant as well as very important to the Ohuhu man, Eze Ofoegbu said the yam being the king of the crop,is used to thank God for a successful farming season.
The traditional ruler who noted with dismay the level of food scarcity in the country as a result of how Agricultural activities are being relegated to the background,pleaded with the government to introduce Mechanised system of Agriculture,where machines such as tractors,are used for cultivation,rather than the local implements, that consumes time and energy.
With this,the monarch revealed that more people would be attracted to Agriculture,thereby increasing the participation of Iriji festival,as many do not find it ideal to celebrate the festival with yams bought from the market.
Eze Ofoegbu also advised the government to provide soft loans or grants to farmers,so as to boost their productivity.
The Former Ist Deputy Chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council,Eze Sir Nzenwata Mbakwe, revealed that the New yam festival is an important ceremony because,it affords one the opportunity to appreciate and thank God for a bountiful harvest,adding that the Yam is used for this occasion because it is seen as the king of the farm.
He said there are consequences if the festival is not done yearly and one of such is that, the farmer would not record a bumper harvest in the coming farming season.
However, the Traditional Ruler of Oriendu Autonomous Community,Eze Ambassador,called on ndigbo to go back to farmimg,so as to boost food sufficiency, while calling on the Abia State government to embark on Land Preparation system, introduce Mechanised system of Agriculture,if the Agric sector would thrive.
The Monarch further thanked the governor of the State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu,for his doggedness in reviving the Agricultural sector, through his various reform programs, describing him as an “Agric Friendly Governor”.
Earlier,the President General of Ohuhu Welfare Union, Chief Obi Aguocha, congratulated the traditional rulers of Ohuhu, for the kick off of the 2020 New Yam festival,urging every son and daughter of Ohuhu Land to encourage and support their traditional rulers to celebrate this festival in their various communities.
