BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
The people of Amike-Aba in Nkaleke Echara Autonomous Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Thursday, held their 2021 Cultural Carnival and canvassed for peaceful co-existence among themselves in their various homes and towns.
The occasion chaired by the Eze Izhi Gbirim I of Lagos State, His Royal Highness Eze Cyprain Nwambam Nwekee with the President of Oha Izhi Nnodo and Onuoha III of Nkaleke Echara Autonomous Community, His Royal Highness Eze S.N Oketa as the Father of the Day was held at Nnodo Secondary School field, Amike-Aba in Abakaliki town.
While speaking, the Chairman of the Occasion, Eze Nwekee appreciated the people for organizing the event, noting that the continuous practice of their culture would help in promoting love, peace and unity among themselves.
He urged the people to sustain the tempo, adding that parents should endeavour to promote Izhi dialect, by teaching their children their local language no matter any place they found themselves.
Eze Nwekee who was in consonance with the Traditional Ruler of Nkaleke Echara Autonomous community, Eze S.N Oketa, on the promotion of their cultural heritage especially their Izhi dialect, congratulated Lady Felicia Nkechinyere Nwota, an Inspector of the Nigeria Police Force, who was conferred Iphoro II of Amike-Aba Kingdom as her Chieftaincy title following her numerous contributions for the growth and development of the village.
Earlier, the Chairman Central Planning Committee of the event, Sir James Aligwe explained that the 2021 Amike-Aba Cultural Carnival was conceived to showcase the rich Izhi cultural artifacts, potentials, customs and traditions to the world for preservation and transition of the same practices to the future generations as a way of saving their identity from impending extinction.
"The carnival was also conceived to further unite and cement the cherished Izhi love and unity among the good people of Amike-Aba, most especially during the yuletide and beyond," the Committee Chairman added.
Aligwe further described the carnival as an epochal event which would enable the custodians of their customs and traditions to fish out and reward the notable promoters of their cherished identity, pointing out that several activities including football competition and other side attractions had been lined up to prepare the way for the historic hosting of the occasion, which its success became possible through committed and conserted efforts of some eminent personalities and lovers of goodwill from the area.
On his part, the Chairman, Amike-Aba Development Union, Chief Dad Augustine Enigwe, said for the past two decades, the cultural carnival has become an annual ritual for the youth of the village to host the celebration of Amike-Aba Day at the end of every year.
According to him, cultural carnival, sporting activities, debating, drama and dancing competitions were normally organized during the celebration, and always participated by the nine wards of the village to compete for positions and trophies.
Enigwe also said that during the event, awards of excellence were normally given to the deserving members of the village and beyond, who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour and those making the villagers proud, just to create environment that would engender love, unity and progress among themselves.
The Development Union Chairman added that the 2021 Amike-Aba Day was unique because the village youth in collaboration with their beloved sister, Lady Felicia Nwota powered this year's celebration with exciting and exhilarating activities designed to bring back to life, their extincting traditions and cultures, and to banquet them onto the next generations.
He pointed out that Lady Felicia Nwota has carved out an inch for herself in uplifting and enhancing the standard of living of the less privileged and the widows through her special meetings organized from time to time, in the village where household items and empowerment materials used to be distributed to them.
He therefore, thanked Lady Nwota for the spirit of love and generosity already displayed and urged other privileged members of the village to emulate her, while assuring more commitment in discharging his duties as the Chairman of the Development Union in the village.
Speaking after her coronation as Iphoro II of Amike-Aba Kingdom, Chief Lady Inspector Felicia Nwota expressed joy for the community founding her so worthy by giving her the chieftaincy title.
"Honestly, I never knew that the little things I'm doing in my community is being monitored by my people, and I thank God today, who made this event a successful one, above all, to earn this wonderful recognition.
"I think this chieftaincy title will spur me to do more, because, to whom is given, more are expected and I will keep doing good," Chief Lady Nwota said.
She also advised the upcoming youth to live worth-emulating life, by touching lives of others in positive light - giving arms to their fellow human beings especially the downtrodden.
Interacting with newsmen, the President of Amike-Aba Youth - Comrade Moses Obia, the Prime Minister of Nkaleke Echara Autonomous Community - Chief George Nwiboko and the Chairman, and the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Ebonyi State - Chief Dr. Augustine Ekechi (Ambassador of Peace) described the cultural carnival organized by Amike-Aba people as a welcome development, saying that it reminded them of their age-long customs and traditions.
They however, urged the young generations to sustain the tempo, by not allowing their cultural heritage especially those promoting love, peace, unity and progress in the society to go into extinction.
