BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
Infants and toddlers thrive when their world feels loving, safe, and predictable. When you show love and respond to your child’s needs, they learn they can count on you. By responding in ways that fit their emotions, you teach them to manage their feelings and behaviour. Feeling secure in their relationships gives them the confidence to explore their surroundings and cope with challenges.
Love Maximising, What This Matters?
Young children are affected by your emotions, whether you are happy or upset. So, it is important to find strategies that help you cope with stress. Caring for yourself helps you stay calm and patient with your child.
Consequently, the people of Oha Izhi Nnodo, occupying Abakaliki, Ebonyi and Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, some other parts of the State, Cross River, Benue and beyond have recalled their heroic struggles and wars waged by their four forefathers to secure a sociocultural and territorial heritage as well as economic status and human dignity for them.
These people have been inspired by the cultural landmarks, noble ideas and core values which guided them in their determination to promote love, peace, unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among themselves through the leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo under the watch of His Royal Highness Eze Sunday Nkwegu Oketa.
Eze Oketa on Saturday during the Oha Izhi Nnodo's sensitization and advocacy visit to the people of Onuenyim Agalegu Ishieke Community in Ebonyi LGA described the body as the apex socio-cultural organisation in Izhi Land.
According to him, Oha Izhi Nnodo under his care has unbent determination to take up the multifaceted challenges that now confront them in the light of the social, economic, political and technological changes taking place in the world; by promoting and protecting their right, consolidating their valued ancient and modern institutions and culture, ensuring the entrenchment of their core values in all categories of leadership and governance, by upholding all the necessary measures to strengthen their common institutions and furnish them with necessary resources to enable them to discharge their respective mandates effectively.
Eze Oketa, the President General of the organisation, urged the community people to continue to be guided by their core values of honesty, hard work, hospitality and their common vision of a united and strong Oha Izhi Nnodo.
He advised the people to continue to build up a healthy relationship with their sister nations and all neighbours or guests, with the consciousness of the fact that the scourge of conflicts and divisive groups branded as 'kindred dichotomy' in their land constitute a major impediment to their desired spate of socio-economic development while emphasising on the need to promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the implementation of their development agenda.
In the same vein, the Secretary-General of the organisation, Chief John Nkwuda, represented by his Assistant, Prince Andrew Ekpe Nwiga while giving an overview of the Constitution, urged the people to prioritize promoting and sustaining the spirit of oneness, peace and progress in their various homes and towns, adding that Oha Izhi Nnodo serves as the umbrella association that coordinates the general affairs of Izhi land.
Also, the Vice President of Oha Izhi Nnodo, Chief Boniface Ezzaegu and Dr Jacob Nwankwo during the event urged the people to embrace their cultures especially those stimulating peace and unity among themselves.
The Publicity Secretary of the body, Apostle Benjamin Obeji, equally expressed the readiness of the organisation to assist all Izhi Communities to tackle their challenges, urging the community leaders to be working together with their people to drive their already maximised love, peace, oneness and progress in the area.
Recall that Onuenyim Agalegu Ishieke people through their Town Union President, Chief Augustine Nwori, earlier lamented that the community since its creation in 1999 had no traditional ruler, but assured the Executives of Oha Izhi Nnodo of selecting their monarch in April this year.
The President who expressed joy over the advocacy visit by the organisation promised that his community will always back Izhi's agenda, especially the movement to ensure Izhi child clinch the governorship position of the state in 2023.
Apostle Obeji therefore, said that the Oha Izhi Nnodo leadership would support the selection of the new traditional ruler and urged the community to continue to speak in one vice while advocating for massive voter registration by the people.
On her part, Chief Mrs Clementina Ogbonna, called the parents especially the mothers to advise their children not to allow themselves to be used as tools for destruction.
She canvassed against political thuggery, hard drug intake and other social vices in Izhi communities considering their deadly implications, urging parents to rise to their responsibilities to stop the menace.
The community stakeholders including the Leader of Ebonyi Legislative Council, Franklin Nwugwu, Solomon Uzoke, F.N Igboke - the immediate past Town Union President, among others commended the leadership of Oha Izhi Nnodo, saying the advocacy visit would continue to maximise the already enhanced relationship among their people.
It could be recalled that the organisation has visited twelve out of its twenty-six communities in Ebonyi, canvassing for peaceful coexistence among its people and their neighbours in the state and beyond.
Highlights of the event were the launching of the Oha Izhi Constitution, traditional music troops and masquerade displays, among others.
