South East breaking News
*urges Ndigbo to go back to farming
By Steve Unegbu
The people of Olokoro clan in Umuahia South LGA of Abia state have performed their 2022 ‘Iwa ji’ festival with a call on Ndigbo to embark on commercial farming system.
Speaking to Newsmen shortly after performing the ceremony at Olokoro central School field, Umuahia, the President General of Olokoro clan Development Union Mazi Dike Nzenwa urged the Igbo people to go back to farming and have yam bans, said it has become necessary because of the way Nigeria situation and economy is now.
He described the 2022 Iwa ji festival as very superb, expressed happiness that it was celebrated in ground style because according to him,’ some other things that were not supposed to be in the program were added as a way of making it to be dynamic.
” I am very glad with what happened today.This one superseded the last year one , yearly we will be improving”
He said Iwa ji festival in Olokoro is an annual festival in which the people of Olokoro clan eat yam collectively and that it is a prelude to ‘Iri ji’ ceremony.
Interacting with Newsmen,the chairman Culture, event and entertainment, Olokoro clan Development Union,Prince Ifeanyi Okezie described Iwa ji as a festival of thanksgiving to God for His blessings, fruitfulness and protection over the year .
He pointed out that,” it is organized by the community in honour of Ndi Eze and that it is the Eze in council that perform the Iwa ji ceremony”
He decried the economic situation in the country,noted that the food crisis in the country,also affected the ceremony as many people have to resort to buying yams in the market instead of harvesting from their farms.
