- Describes celebration of new yam festivals in Igbo land as unique culture.
By Eche Nwaobasi – Onitsha.
HRM Igwe Godwin Odiegwu, the traditional ruler of Abacha community Idemili North LGA Anambra State, has passionately prayed for God to continue giving Gov. Chukwuma Soludo the wisdom and strength to sustain his good achievements so far till the end of his administration just as he describes the celebration of new yams festival in Igboland as a unique culture that needs to be sustained in every part of Igbo land stressing that the celebration often brings good tidings in many Igbo communities after its celebration.
Offering these prayers through high Chief Paul Omofia, the Onowu of Abacha (the traditional prime minister of the community), who represented him during this year 2026 iwaji Abacha ceremony, held at his palace in Umudisi village, Abacha, Idemili North LGA. Igwe Odiegwu, who prayed for continuous peace, progress, and increase of food harvests in his town, Anambra state, and Nigeria in general, commended Gov. Soludo on all his programmes in the state. He urged him not to relent as his achievements are positively impacting on the state development index.
Speaking on the state of Anambra state under Gov Soludo, he called on every citizens of the state to be law abiding and pursue everything that will bring peace and unity in the state, adding that every citizen of the state should rise and rally round Gov Soludo to lift up the state developmentally more than it used to be.
While admonishing every town unions to co-operate with their Igwes to ensure absolute development of their various communities, he reminded state youths to shun idleness, cultism, and all manners of criminalities, and embrace hard work, especially on areas of agriculture, saying there are a lot of prospects in agricultural sector in the state.
On developments in his community, he revealed that a lot of his people are trying to contribute their quotas on development of his community in several areas, namely through empowerment of youths, women, elderly, provision of infrastructures, construction of roads, etc, but stated that as Oliver Twist, that although the state government is trying for them that he is appealing to Gov. Soludo to still remember the town’s inner rural roads, especially the road that passes through their town, Abacha, to Oraukwu, as well as to Abatete, and all the neigbouring communities emphasizing that these roads were abandoned by past governments in the state after initial efforts to construct them.
Speaking to journalists immediately after the ceremony, Ambassador Jeff Uba, secretary, Igwe of Abacha cabinet, High Chief Arinze Anyanwu, Onosele Eze Abacha, High Chief Emma Ezeji, Ikemba Abacha, Sir Simon Adabanya, chairman enforcement on petroleum and mineral resources government house Awka, all underscored the importance of celebration of new yam festivals in Igbo land, noting that the festival helps to highlight the importance of Igbo culture, adding that Igbos should not allow their rich culture to die just as they called upon the Igbo youths to join and promote the Igbo culture and tradition for its sustainance.
In unison while thanking the Igwe of Abacha for keeping the tradition of the town through the regular celebration of the festivals every year since his emergence as the monarch of the town, they wished him well and appealed to all indigenes of the community to unite in peace to promote anything that will make the town to progress further.
Highlights of the occasion was the masquerades performances, rich cultural displays of the people, paying of homages to Igwe by Umuada, Umudiana, the town union’s branches, traditional rulers, including HRM Igwe Benneth Emeka, the traditional ruler of Umueri Ancient Kingdom. Goodwill messages were paid by other very important personalities who graced the occasion with pump and pageantries, etc.