By Praise Chinecherem
The public declaration by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo on the occasion of the 2023 New Yam Festival at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square Awka on Saturday 21st October, that Ndigbo are not kidnappers and they don’t live in the bush lent credence to the glitz, glamour and brotherliness that pervaded the celebration.
The conviviality and companionship on display at the epic occasion portrayed the fact that rather than kidnap or kill their own brothers for ransom, Ndigbo are known for their art of industry, resilience, stoicism, intrepidity as well as their ability to make a dry land fertile for cultivation as practically demonstrated by the winner of the 2023 Diji who cultivated the biggest yam and Governor Soludo rather than settle for the initial N100,000 price money, decided out of his own benevolence and magnanimity to increase the price money to N1 million even though the winner hails from Anaocha where the land is not as fertile as those in Anambra-West, Anambra-East, Ayamelum and Ogbaru council areas.
Governor Soludo’s reassuring statements of his administration’s commitment to making Anambra soil more fertile for cultivation added more impetus to the occasion as Ndi-Anambra treated themselves to the roasted yams garnished with Ose, Ukpaka, Azu, Utazi, red oil and washed down the throats with fresh palm wine. It was indeed a tranquil atmosphere as traditional rulers, town union leaders, Ohaneze Ndigbo and a host of other persons and groups relished the acrobatic performances of masquerades and various cultural groups from the 179 communities of the 21 local government areas of the state.
Indeed, Governor Soludo had no water in his mouth when he vehemently declared that Ndigbo are not kidnappers instead they are known, adored and respected for hard work and dignity in labour. He therefore described the Iri-ji festival as a means to show to the world what Anambra State has in stock culturally. The governor explained that culture is not just in the dances but a totality of who Ndigbo are in terms of what they wear, how they dress, how they talk and their character.
Soludo stated that part of the culture of Ndigbo is the celebration of hard work, stressing that the whole essence of the New Yam Festival is a crowning of the hard work of the year; that yam being the king of all crops is being celebrated. He said the core values of Igbo are hard work, integrity and compassion. That Ndigbo are very compassionate set of people and they carry one another along, leaving no one behind.
Soludo stated that the core values of Ndigbo are reflected in his administration’s policies and programmes as seen in the free antenatal and delivery services, free education policies, free distribution of coconut and palm seedlings to empower people for life and a host of other social services. The governor also disclosed that his administration would soon be empowering people with several palliatives and that currently about 59000 pensioners and civil servants had been receiving some salary augmentations.
Furthermore, the governor announced that his administration would soon distribute rice to more than 300,000 households in Anambra State. That they will do that in November this year, adding that it is part of the culture of Ndigbo to rise by lifting their brothers and sisters. He said it is not in the culture and character of Igbo people to live in the bushes for hostage takings and other criminal activities. Hence the governor appealed to those hiding in the bushes to come out and embrace peace because Ndigbo believe in love for one another.
Royal Father of the 2023 Iri-ji festival of Anambra State and traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, also lent credence to what the governor said about the culture and character of the Igbo nation. Igwe Achebe stated that culture does not reflect only in dances and masquerades but the entirety of their ways of life. He was cognisant that Ndigbo seemed to have jettisoned their core values for the quest for fame and fortunes through fast lanes. Igwe Achebe therefore maintained that the core values of Ndigbo are very important and according to him, there is an urgent need to revert to those core principles Ndigbo are known for even as he disclosed that the Southeast Traditional Rulers’ Council, Representatives of Archbishops and Bishops of Igbo origin are currently brainstorming on the best way possible to restore Igbo core values to enable Ndigbo to rediscover themselves again.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, said the Iri-ji festival was a means to promote the cultural heritage of Ndi-Anambra and also unite the people in line with Governor Soludo’s manifesto of creating a liveable, lovable and prosperous home land. Nwabunwanne said he was in agreement with what the governor said that Ndigbo are not kidnappers and that culture is all about uniting one another and uniting the communities for the greater good of all and sundry, adding that the 2023 New Yam Festival of Anambra State was a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs alongside the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Entertainment.
Also, the Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Comrade Don Onyenji, appreciated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for his support and ensuring that the Iri-ji festival was a remarkable success. Onyenji stated that the governor was absolutely right when he said kidnapping and hostage taking were not part of Igbo culture. That Igbo culture promotes the legitimacy of hard work, diligence and love for one another.
While the masqueraders and other cultural dancers entertained Ndi-Anambra who watched the performances with avid attention, the Chairman Ihiala Local Government Area, Hon. Anayochukwu Charles Orjiako, could not withhold his joy and happiness for the successful organization of the 2023 Iwa-ji festival of Anambra State. Orjiako who spoke with our correspondent as he relished the occasion, said New Yam Festival is an age long tradition of Ndigbo. He said Iri-ji festival was even more popular than the Jewish Christmas festival in the preliterate era. He therefore commended Governor Soludo’s idea of bringing Ndi-Anambra together in one celebration to showcase the inevitability and significance of the oneness inherent in Igbo culture and tradition.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo president in Anambra State, Chief Obi Chukwuemekalum Udodeme, said the New Yam Festival was taking the culture and traditions to the grassroots; describing it as a good start which should be sustained. Udodeme opined that it was a huge success but suggested the involvement of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the planning and execution of subsequent editions of Iri-ji festival of Anambra State, adding that Ohaneze Ndigbo is the apex Igbo body and such cultural event like the New Yam Festival can not be celebrated without Ohaneze Ndigbo playing a pivotal role even as he commended the initiators of the event.
The Ohaneze state president noted that Governor Soludo was correct in his statements that Ndigbo are not kidnappers and they don’t live in the forests. He said all over Nigeria, Ndigbo are known for industry and the blessings God has given them. He said Ndigbo are entrepreneurs and a hard-working nation and always successful in their endeavours. He said those who have made the bush their place of living is regrettable, unfortunate and not acceptable to Ndigbo. He said the best houses in Nigeria are being occupied by Ndigbo. That there is absolutely no reason why someone would live in the bush when Ndigbo have the best houses in Nigeria. That such lifestyle is alien to Ndigbo.
Udodeme said Ndigbo are not kidnappers and they don’t kill their brothers. He said Igbo people are predominantly Christians and they don’t shed blood. He therefore thanked the governor for his efforts in curbing such criminalities and abnormalities in Anambra State, stressing that the governor is succeeding in the security of lives and properties of the people of Anambra State.
Also, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Anambra State, Chief Maja Umeh, said he was happy to be alive to witness the maiden Iri-ji festival of Anambra State. That the New Yam Festival was a time to show profound gratitude and appreciation to the God of harvest and God of creation.
On the other hand, a foremost culture promoter in the state, Dr. Chuma Odili Harris also known as Ogene Ndigbo, appreciated the governor for extending amnesty to those living in the bushes for criminal activities. He said the governor has extended an olive branch to them; appealing to them to come out and embrace peace as such lifestyles were not part of the culture of Ndigbo, describing the 2023 Iri-ji festival of Anambra State as a remarkable and resounding success.
