Tradition, Culture Necessity, Can’t Go Into Extinction – Anambra Ex-guber Candidate

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

A former gubernatorial candidate of National Conscience Party of Nigeria, NCPN, in Anambra State, comrade Peter Okala, said weekend during his 2023 newyam festival, held in his Iyiowa Odekpe residence, Ogbaru Local Government Area, that tradition and culture would not go into extinction in Igbo land and in Africa.

Speaking during his celebration of the newyam festival, he stated that his performing the tradition/culture was a divine assignment adding that as long as the god of harvest has honoured it, it needed to be done.

“It is in line with our culture, this culture has been there, we inherited it and have been practising it. it is our life and heritage.I come to learn that white man does not love one another, our god has been here, it is we, Africans and Igbo, that are practising the real love.

“Example, when a white man grows old, they will take that old man to old people’s home. In our culture, we don’t have old people’s home, we still cherish our old people.We Africa, have what we call the paternal and maternal relations. We have old men and women there, that are being respected here. Killing of people and wasting of blood is abomination in our context and culture,” he explained.

To buttress his point further, he recalled that Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, recently performed state burial for late former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, describing it as a welcome development and greatest honour to hold for one’s predecessor, to keep the flag flying.

“Mbadinuju was one of the best leaders we had but the circumstances around him overwhelmed him. He was overwhelmed because he was a truthful person, because he goes into agreement and tried to respect that agreement, that was the shortcoming that was later celebrated negatively,” he stated.

He added further that as former executive governor of Anambra state, his achievements could not be removed from the sand of time stating that they are wake-up call.

Speaking, the chairman of Odo Rubber community Association of Social Interest, Chief Muogozie Fredrick, stated that tradition has come to stay despite being abused.

“Nobody will stop traditional practice. Those that do traditional wedding, is it not the thing we are talking about that it can’t go into Extinction. What Peter Okala, is doing is tradition that has been there since ages. It is one of our rich cultural heritages.

“Those who perform only white wedding with time the marriage will break and they remain single because the traditional wedding that binds them together spiritually is not there,” he stated.

He described Okala, the celebrant as a father and Grand Patron of the community who has brought the community to the limelight.

Also speaking, the chairman of Anambra State Drivers’ Welfare Association, Chief Adindu Opala, expressed satisfaction with the newyam festival disclosing that the celebrant is a patron/spiritual director of the drivers who has contributed immensely to the well being of the drivers.

The drivers’ boss commended Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for establishment of anti touting squad to sack touts in the state, lamenting that touts have caused great discomfort to residents, travellers and drivers in the state.

Earlier, the chairman on the occasion, Chief Nwachinemere Okorie, a grand patron of Chioma residents, affirmed that tradition and culture as identities of communities, could not go into extinction.

According to him what Okala did was an age long tradition he inherited from his ancestors who guard and direct him as he pilots the affairs of humanity.

“Whoever that condemns tradition is not born of a woman and should be advised to know that he comes from a place. He did not come from the moon. He should not be an advocate of the white man that has come to deceive us,” he warned.

In their various remarks, Chiefs Dennis Ezeoka, chairman of Labour Party, Housing estate Fegge, Onitsha, Sunday Onwuaghara, who was a former Bridgehead market vice chairman, Hon. Njobi Sam Njobi and David Umeh, Commander of Onitsha South taskforce, described newyam festival as the highest Igbo cultural heritage that has come to stay even as they paid glowing tribute to Okala, for his yearly celebration of the newyam in grand style.

They prayed God to continue to guard, direct and provide for him to be able to extend to fellow human beings that also see him as their mentor and guardian, hoping that next year celebration would be better.

Pic 1. shows Okala( right), dancing with drivers’ chairman (left) during the celebration. Pic 2. Group photograph with the celebrant