The Executive Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Barr. Steve Emenike Nwankpa, has urged political leaders to empower traditional institutions as a means of preserving cultural heritage, warning that modernity, religion, and politics are gradually eroding the values that bind communities together.
Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki during the grand finale of the 2025 Izzi New Yam Festival (Ojiji), Nwankpa emphasized that yam is not just a staple crop to his people but a sacred symbol of wealth, fertility, and strength, making the annual festival an anchor of identity, unity, and rural economy.
“Our existence depends on yam. Without yam, life is threatened. He who has yam has everything,” the council boss declared.
He explained that the festival is more than an agricultural ritual, describing it as the “own Christmas” of the Izzi people and a unique cultural celebration that brings families and communities together.
“The New Yam Festival is the only period when our people are permitted to harvest and consume the new yam. Beyond its agricultural significance, it promotes harmony and fellowship.
"On that day, every home is open. Visitors and children are entertained everywhere. It is a day of love and unity, unlike any other celebration,” Nwankpa noted.
The council chairman stressed that the festival serves as a socio-economic pillar, especially for rural dwellers and vulnerable households who depend on the event to sell their produce, access food, and improve their livelihoods.
However, Nwankpa expressed concern that the forces of modernization, the growing influence of religion, and partisan politics were undermining cultural traditions, warning that politicians alone cannot preserve heritage.
“Politicians cannot sustain it. What we can do is support our communities and traditional rulers, not politicize culture.
"Personally, I ensure widows and families gather in my compound during the festival so that the story and practice are not lost. Culture is best preserved by living it,” he maintained.
While acknowledging the spread of Christianity and modern lifestyles, Nwankpa insisted that the New Yam Festival must not be abandoned, stressing that it embodies the moral codes, unity, and socio-economic resilience of the Izzi people.
He therefore called on leaders at all levels to deliberately empower traditional rulers and cultural custodians, saying their role is critical in sustaining the heritage for future generations.
