This year’s Ofala Annual Cultural festival being celebrated by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, on an annual basis, for 16 consecutive years, appeared to have added more glamour than those of the previous years.
The added glamour which included Ofala Music Concert, crowning of the most beautiful girl in Onitsha as Miss Ofala 2017 and a royal banquet in honour of Igwe Achebe, would remain fresh in the annals of history and evergreen in the minds of the participants.
Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe The two-day fiesta which showcased the rich and bumper cultural heritage of Onitsha, was attended by eminent personalities, including the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II; Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State and Chief Osita Chidoka, the UPP candidate.
The Ooni was received on arrival by Achebe (Agbogidi) himself at the revered Ime Obi Palace, Onitsha where they exchanged pleasantries and had tete-a-tete. Although the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had few years ago directed that the civil suit filed by Prince Ifeanyi Onyejekwe, one of the contestants to the Obiship throne of Onitsha, seeking the removal of Achebe from the throne and installing him (Onyejekwe) as the authentic Obi of Onitsha, directed that the suit be sent back to Anambra State High Court where it initially originated, thus leaving the case pending before the court till date, Obi Achebe still commands maximum respect from his subjects, the government and contemporaries.
During the two-day event which was sponsored by Glo telecommunications network, Achebe and his cabinet members, which included the Ogene Onira, the Ede Gbogbogaga, the Odu, the Odua Ngu and other titled ones, danced to the rhythm of Ota music in the order of seniority. Even without the presence of the late Onowu of Onitsha, Chief Chike Ofodile (SAN) who joined his ancestors few years ago, which made his seat to remain vacant till date, the Owelle II of Onitsha, Chief Chukwuma Azikiwe, first son of the Owelle I, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the absence of the late Ojiudo Enema of Onitsha, Chief Felix Odiari who also died few years ago, the festival was enjoyed by all and sundry.
In his remarks, Achebe threw his weight behind the call by majority of Nigerians to restructure the country in such a way that it will suit all the ethnic nationalities. Achebe stated that the only solution to the country’s socio-economic and political problem was to restructure the country in such a way that it would chart a new course for enduring peace, unity and stability of Nigeria.
He also renewed his call on the Federal Government to commence without further delay, the second Niger bridge project as well as either open up business in the Onitsha seaport of final destination or declare it a disaster area. According to Achebe, “I thank God for seeing us through to yet another year and I commend the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders in this area for sustaining the peace and the tempo on the security network across the zone.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to embrace dialogue as the only means to end ethnic violence and agitations by ensuring equity and justice in the polity.”
In his remark at the occasion, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State thanked the Obi and Onitsha-Ado kingdom for sustaining the Igbo tradition, culture and customs and by extension, raising the standard. Obiano commended the Onitsha community for their support to his administration and reassured them of his commitment to the safety, peace and development of the state, pointing out that Anambra State has remained the safest state in the country irrespective of little challenges occasioned by political opposition and quest by some overzealous political opponents to create a state of insecurity in the state.
“I want to assure you that this government will do everything within her powers to protect the lives and property of her citizens. We have no other state to go and I am duty bound to ensure that the suffering of Anambra people is reduced to the bearest minimum through good governance, payment of salaries as and when due, creating an enabling environment to make the state the first choice and final destination place for inventors in Nigeria.
“I urge you to support my government, Vote for APGA and vote for continuity and good governance in Anambra State. As we celebrate the Ofala today with our revered royal father as part of the activity marking his new yam festival, I assure you that agriculture remains our priority and we will continue to invest more in agriculture to create employment, have enough food on our table for local consumption and export.”
Rich culture and tradition Also speaking, former Minister of Aviation and Governorship candidate of UPP, Chief Osita Chidoka, praised Onitsha people for their rich culture and tradition and described Achebe as an embodiment of distinction, grace and courage that ndi Igbo are famed for.
According to Chidoka, “It is always an honour to visit and sit in the presence of such a distinguished royal father whom I have continued to draw inspiration from; and even in the midst of today’s activities, he made out time to engage in a brief, but quality discussion with me.”
He therefore used the occasion to solicit the votes of Ndi Anambra as according to him, if he becomes the next governor of the state, he would clean up everywhere and make the state great in terms of development.