By James Nwakpa
It was a moment of joy and merriment as sons and daughters of Ezza Ezekuna, both at home and in diaspora observe this year's new yam (Okeaku) festival which signifies triumphant entry into the new year according to the people's traditional calendar.
Okpoku Ezekuna in Onueke, the ancestral home of Ezza Ezekuna was the hub of the event, where people of the clan from different parts of the world usually gather for the grand finale of the annual feast.
In his elated and celebration mood, Engr. Ken Eze, the Executive Chairman of Ezza South Local Government Area who doubles as the Ebonyi Central APC Senatorial Candidate, while interacting with newsmen in his home town Onueke, noted that Okeaku is a very unique and respected cultural heritage of Ezza people, inherited from their forefathers from the time immemorial, which has been propagated from one generation to another.
Engr. Eze who was overwhelmed with happiness, said that Okeaku is usually a period to show love and care to others and as well the time of thanksgiving to God for keeping the people alive from the previous year to the new year, and stressed the need to promote peace and unity as a panacea for societal development.
Also, in their separate but closely related voices, the former town union president and traditional ruler aspirant of Okuofia in Ezza South L.G.A, Chief Martin Nwite and the traditional prime minister of Oriuzor in Ezza North L.G.A, Chief Jideofor Azoba, maintained that Okeaku is usually a time to make merry and to exchange gift items with friends, in-laws, relatives and well-wishers.
They advised the people especially the youths to always be mindful of their culture and never to allow their rich cultural heritage to go into extinction, stressing that there was nothing fetish about the festival.
Others who spoke with the press included the Deputy Director of News and Current Affairs, EBBC, Dr Kingsley Nworie, the Emeritus Youth President of Okuofia, Mr Igwe Joseph and the Youth Leader of Obama Kingdom, Mr Eyeke Augustus, all from Ezza South L.G.A, expressed their happiness to witness this year's festival and prayed God to bless the people of Ezza Ezekuna and other well-meaning Ebonyians.
Similarly, a visitor, Mr Festus Ogbule, who came from Ikwo to celebrate with the traditional prime minister of Oriuzor, felicitated Ezza's sons and daughters, and also emphasized the need to use this period of festivity to promote love, unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Ebonyi State.
