Daily Times Nigeria Monday, January 2, 2017
The Anambra Times 3
Pomp as monarch celebrates first Ofala 17 years after Alphonsus Nweze, Awka
ÏÏÏ Ofala festival in Igbo land
is a period of celebration. It is a time the traditional ruler of a people celebrate with the people or the subjects for the bountiful harvest, life, good health and the general wellbeing of the members of the community and faithfulness of God on them during the year. It is a time the king presents himself to his people to catch a glimpse of him for those of them who rarely or have not seen him in the course of the year, Ofala will avail them the opportunity to see him. The traditional ruler uses the opportunity of Ofala festival to honour those who have in one way or the other contributed to the development of the community. Ideally, Ofala festival holds every year during the dry season to allow wider participation of the people but due to unforeseen reason(s), it may not hold in a particular year or several years depending on the community. And this was the case of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Bernard Uyaemanam Udeze Ezeokafor, the Otoko n’Oboko, EzeEzu 1 of Ikem –Ivite Nando in Anambra East Local Government Area of the State, who could not conduct his Ofala festival for 17 years. But the traditional ruler broke the jinx last December 28, 2016, when he celebrated his first Ofala festival in which he gave an award to several people in the community and beyond for distinguishing themselves in the development of the town. The Ofala festival no doubt elated the indigenes of the community who have not seen such fanfare and large gathering of people in their community in the past years. The ofala was a carnival and spectacular to behold with different masquerades, musical and dancing groups as well as Nollywood actors and actresses, who attracted the attention of the local communities. For the typical local villagers especially the children, the youth and the women, it
was a period of sight-seeing, joy and coming face to face with the culture and tradition of their forebears. An Okada rider and indigene of the community, Mr. Nicholas Okchukwu, who conveyed this reporter to the venue of the event, expressed his elation when he said the event was the best thing that has ever happened to IkemIvite Nando since he became an adult. He was full of eulogy for their traditional ruler for having made them proud by celebrating the ofala festival in spite of the challenges that would have aborted it, saying that with the celebration, he has opened the community to a lot of people, which he was sure will usher in development to their community. In his speech, Igwe Ezeokafor, lauded Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for the giant strides he was making in the state in the area of crime, agriculture, payment of workers’ salary as and when due and other projects in all parts of the state. He particularly commended the Governor for the construction of Awkuzu Express-Abube-Agu-NkwoNando, which its bridge has been awarded. The traditional ruler therefore requested for the construction of the remaining stretch from Nkwo to IkemIvite Nando which terminates at Aguleri-Anaku road. Igwe Ezeokafor declared his support for Governor Obiano’s second term ambition, pledging that the people of his community will vote him massively when the time comes to continue his good works. One of the awardees, Chief Victor Ikechukwu Anigbata, a former governorship candidate of the defunct National Democratic Party (NDP), who was conferred with chieftaincy title of Ebubedike for his contribution to the development of the community, was full of encomium for the traditional ruler and his council in chiefs for the recognition accorded him. He said it was the recognition for those things that he brought to the community
“I challenge our people to come forward and help their community in any way they can. Anybody can help by doing something. No effort is too small
Igwe Ezeokafor when he was the PresidentGeneral of Nando such as electricity, saying that he had always helped people within his capacity in area of educational endowment, poverty alleviation and other forms of philanthropy. Anigbata said his political ambition has not gone into oblivion but sometimes after one’s attempts, one withdraws to assess the situation, one‘s strengths and weaknesses, how to amend and improve one’s chances if one storms the scene again. He said that since his brother, Governor Willie Obiano from Omambala part of the state is the Governor, he has decided to lie low until after his tenure, stating “if it is God and people’s will that I will be governor, I will surely be governor. I am being quiet because my brother is the Governor. This is not the time for all of us to be aspiring to be Governor again. We should support him fully to do well”. He commended the Igwe for honouring him in this first Ofala festival after 17 years on the throne and wished him many years of reign, describing the traditional ruler as “a good and hardworking man” who is desirous to give his people development. Dr. Agustine Okigbo, who
was also given chieftaincy title of Nwachinemelu 1 of Ikem Ivite Nando, expressed happiness that his effort and that of others to develop the community have been recognised and rewarded. He said he has been a major contributor to ensuring that there was security in the town as well as helping the youths of the community when he was in charge of Chief GUO Okeke football club, through which many of them travelled abroad for greener pasture in professional football. He noted that Ikem Ivite Nando like any other community has its own problems, reechoing the fact that road
was their major challenge followed by security challenges which they have been gradually addressing. He said: “I challenge our people to come forward and help their community in any way they can. Anybody can help by doing something. No effort is too small. Charity, they said, begins at home. I sent 20 people from my community abroad through GUO football club. I have helped in paying for GCE and NECO for about another 20. Some of them are graduates today. I played role in resolving the crisis in the community”. Summing it up, the Palace Secretary, Chief John Iwunoh, explained the delay in organising the Ofala festival, saying it was not something you do in a hurry and pleaded that now that Igwe has celebrated his first Ofala festival everybody in the community should rally round him, since he was doing well.
Obiano committed to improving living conditions of citizenry -ASWAMA boss ÏÏÏ The Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Barrister Phil Chinwuba, has restated the determination of Governor Willie Obiano to improve the living conditions of the citizenry. Chinwuba stated this while speaking to the press in his office at the Government House Awka, the state capital. He said that the Governor has provided insurance for ASWAMA staff and noted that the insurance policy would be of great
help to the workers because they are prone to accidents because of the nature of their job. Chinwuba commended Governor Obiano for the kind gesture, adding that it would encourage the staff to discharge their duties with more commitment especially now they know that the present administration recognized the hazards of their profession. The ASWAMA boss reassured the commitment of the agency towards sustaining the efforts of the governor in maintaining clean and healthy environment.