The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Bayelsa
State chapter, has cancelled this year’s Igbo Day celebration in the
state.
The President of the group in the state, Chief Maurice
Chinedu-Amaku, announced the cancellation at a news conference on
Wednesday in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Chinedu-Amaku said the decision not to hold the Igbo Day slated for
September 29 was due to “unfortunate incidents in the country” in the
last few months.
He said the Igbo people were mourning and that there was no reason
to celebrate in the midst of calamities that had befallen them in recent
times.
He, therefore, urged Igbo sons and daughters in Bayelsa to mark
this year’s celebration by praying within the confines of their
individual homes for the peace and unity of the state and the country.
Chinedu-Amaku stated,
“The decision to make it a prayer day is
born out of an agreement collectively reached by leaders and members of
the Igbo community in the state.“It will be recalled that before now, the Igbo Day was marked
with so many activities that showcased the culture of the Igbo, but this
year will be dedicated to prayers for a unified state and nation which
will be done in the confines of our homes.
“We are therefore calling on all Igbo people to have a sober reflection on that day and hold prayers in their individual homes.
“In line with the resolution of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide and
Ohaneze Ndigbo Bayelsa State, this year’s Igbo Day is aimed at
committing the challenges of the Igbo ethnic nationality to God for
divine intervention.“We are all aware, none of us here is a stranger to the
incidents that have been going on in this country in the past one month
or two.
“Our people are mourning and because of that, we cannot come out to say we are celebrating.
“Are we celebrating over the graves and blood of our people? We
are mourning and that is why we have decided to hold prayers in our
closets to mourn our people.”
Present at the conference were His Royal Highness, Chief Anthony
Uwakwe, Eze Igbo, Bayelsa State; special assistants to Governor, Chief
Tony Madu, Chief Okwudiri Oko, and Chief Sunny Chukwuezi, as well as
prominent Igbo sons and daughters in the state.