-Laments bad road networks in entire community axis
BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The people of Mbeke Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have condemned in its entirety cultism and drug addiction in their vicinities.
The people through their Town Union President, Prince Moses Ogbaga and the Co-ordinator, Mbeke Development Centre, Hon. Michael Njoku made the condemnation on Saturday at Community Primary School, Isophumini Mbeke Ishieke Community in Ebonyi LGA during the advocacy and sensitization visit of Oha Izhi Nnodo under the leadership of HRH Eze S.N Oketa, Onuoha III of Nkaleke Echara Autonomous community.
Though, the President General of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Eze Oketa, had earlier commended the community people in considering their contributions for the development of Izhi land and Ebonyi State in general, advised them not to underplay their cultural practices because of the strange lives in the society nowadays.
He informed the people that the cancellation of the grand finale for the 2021 new yam festival was as a result of the killings of over 117 Izhi children by marauding Fulani herdsmen and other evil experiences encountered by their people within the year.
Eze Oketa explained that Oha Izhi being the apex socio-cultural organization in the clan embarked on the advocacy and sensitization visit to correct some abnormal practices and misconceptions in different Izhi communities, keeping the people backward.
He said every Izhi child must observe the tradition and custom of the land, urging the people not to allow alien cultures to derail their hard earned cultural practices such as new yam festival (Ojiji), feast of the all departed souls with legacies (Otutara), burial rites, traditional marriage ceremony, among others.
"Whether you are priest, pastor, Reverend Father, brother or sister, we are all Izhi people, and we must observe all our cultural practices including Ojiji and Otutara, because, they are not fetish practices. If you say that your father is Satan, it means you are the child of Satan," he stated.
The President General said that it was a negligence to the cultural practices of the land, led to the rising cases of violence and strange happenings in different quarters these days.
He said that Oha Izhi has resolved that every Izhi family must have her constitution, which will be serving as the guiding compass to all Izhi people in their various activities, related to their cultures and other things.
Oketa informed the people, that any Izhi child who has reached 18 years and above must obtain voter card, and defaulters would face heavy punishment, since in his words, the 2023 Izhi agenda for guber post, demands a collective effort to make it a reality.
Giving overview of the Oha Izhi Constitution, the Secretary General, Chief John Nkwuda, said its provisions remain supreme before every child of the land.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the stakeholders of Mbeke Ishieke Community to approach the government authourities to give facelift to the roads linking to the areas, following the gory nature of their road networks, which according to him, nearly crippled the advocacy visit.
He noted that 'Oha Izhi encompasses all the representatives of groups or associations of Izhi extraction, and therefore, the provisions of the Constitution must be observed by every Izhi child no matter his or her statue in the society.'
"The Constitution states that politics should not divide Izhi land. It condemns kindredship in Izhi land. So, Oha Izhi is for everybody, all families, villages, communities and local government areas. Use of cow horns by our females during burial events is allowed, because it remains one of Izhi cultural practices," Chief Nkwuda added.
Further, the Publicity Secretary of Oha Izhi, Apostle Benjamin Obaji urged the leadership of the community town union and traditional ruler to work together in championing the affairs of their people.
Apostle Obaji equally urged the community to wage war against cultism, drug addiction and anything capable of tearing Izhi nation apart.
Recall that Ebonyi State Commissioner for Capital City and Urban Development, and an Mbeke Ishieke illustrious son, Chief Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, while commending Oha Izhi leadership, advocated for equity and fair play among Izhi children in power distributions and other assignments in the land.
Nwebonyi who commended the administration of Governor David Nweze Umahi in the state, urged Izhi people to continue to support the governor as he prayed for his emergence as Nigeria's President while Izhi man would clinch the Ebonyi governorship position, come 2023.
He also advised all Izhi children from 18 years and above to obey Oha Izhi's directive on compulsory voter registration to ensure the dream of the clan comes true in 2023, while preaching oneness, understanding and greater love among themselves.
Other speakers during the occasion including the Vice President of Oha Izhi, Chief Boniface Ezaegu, the Assistant Secretary of the body, Prince Andrew Ekpe Nwiga, with some community stakeholders, Chief Lazarus Eze, Hon. John Nwankata - APC Vice Chairman, Ebonyi North Senatorial Zone, Hon. Henry Mbam - Councillor Mbeke Ward, Chief Aloysius Nwambam, amongst others expressed joy over the large turnout for the event, and equally called for oneness, peace, unity and progress of Izhi nation.
Highlights of the event included launching of the Oha Izhi Constitution, donations of cash gifts, cows, goats, cultural dance with masquerade displays by the community people, refreshment, among others.
