South East breaking News
Igbo men in general have been called on to return back to farming ,saying it is the easiest way of ensuring food sufficiency in the community.
Addressing Newsmen during the 2019 Iwa / Iri ji ( New yam ) festival at his palace at Alaoji Amakanma Olokoro in Umuahia South Local government Area of Abia state ,the Traditional Ruler of Alaoji Amakanma ,who is the chairman of Olokoro Traditional Rulers ,HRH Eze Sir Dan Ike Okezie ,stressed the need why Igbo men should embark on massive production of food ,pointing out that many people are now lazy and unable to feed their families, adding that many communities now buy yams from the market to celebrate Iri Iji festival ,describing it as wrong and against the Igbo custom and tradition.
He queried why any Igbo man should be lazy ,saying it is not part of Igbo culture, revealing that in those days , the strength of Igbo men are in their farms and bans of yam .
On the challenges faced by farmers ,he lamented the activities of Herdsmen who are deliberately destroying the crops planted in the farms ,advising that it should be curtailed by government to avert feminine in the land .He described it as a serious challenge which prompt remedy is needed from the stakeholders.
Eze Okezie thanked those came to celebrate the 2019 Iri ji festival with them ,noting that it is a festival they inherited from their fore fathers ,hence they will continue to celebrate it.
Addressing the Newsmen ,the controller in charge of Federal ministry of power ,works and Housing Abia state, Mr Elias Oham ,who was a guest at the occasion, expressed his happiness for being at the ceremony, noting that he had learnt a lot from the Iri ji festival of Alaoji community.
He described Iri ji festival as a very good culture ,which brings people together and capable of serving as a good example of tourism resort , if properly harnessed ,while urging Igbos to embrace the Iri ji cultural festival.
In his speech ,the Traditional Preminister of Alaoji Amakama Autonomous community ,who is also the chairman of Olokoro clan ,High chief Sir ,Dr John C .Onwuachuke ,expressed joy that their 2019 Iri ji festival was successful, while emphasising the need why Igbos should continue to celebrate Iri ji cultural festival ,saying it is highly recognised as an important Igbo culture inherited from the fore fathers.
He frowned at those who labelled new yam festival as Fetish ,saying there is nothing fetish about it , ” In Alaoji Amakanma we call on God Almighty and Our Lord Jesus Christ ,did you notice anything fetish ,no sound doctrine of any church will describe this as fetish ” he noted.Even as he urged the youths to shun all form of violence during the celebration , ” we have advised the youths not to be involved in violence and be peaceful “
Earlier on ,the former President general and Adviser General of Alaoji Amakanma community, High Chief David Obioma Anayaogu expressed so much joy ,describing Alaoji people as being hardworking and industrious.
He pointed that his community takes farming seriously ,especially the cultivation of yams ,saying yam is celebrated because it is the major food crop in Igbo land.
In his speech ,HRH Eze Col Ogbonna Onuoha Rtd of Amakanma Autonomous community who was also present and who celebrated theirs earlier said Igbo men are known by their number of bans of yam and their ability to feed their families,while describing Iri ji in Igbo land as symbolic.
