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From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The traditional ruler of Ogidi Kingdom in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Alex Uzo Onyido, has applauded governor Chukwuma Soludo for renaming the state International Cargo and Passenger Airport after it’s illustrious literary icon son, Prof Chinua Achebe as well as rehabilitation of Ugwu Nwasike roundabout and link road to Enugu-Onitsha expressway.
Igwe thanked governor Soludo for the appointments of some illustrious sons of the community in his administration, saying that Ogidi Kingdom was indebted to him and will continue to support his government and to partner with him in community development.
The Monarch who made the commendation at the weekend during his 4th Ofala festival blamed the spate of crimes and insurgency in the South East to the incarceration of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his continued detention.
He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to unconditionally release the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnadi Kanu to reduce crime and insurgency in South East zone.
The Monarch who said that the upsurge in crime, particularly kidnapping and cultism was being tackled in Ogidi despite the fact it is a general phenomenon all over the South East states.
“I am appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to the aid of the South East region and effect the release of Nnamdi Kanu. This singular gesture of Mr. President will no doubts, mitigate and reduce the incidents of insurgency and other criminal activities in the South East. There is no gainsaying that continued detention of Mazi Kanu is disrupting the development of the South region with youth restiveness as the by-product.
“Let it be known that, until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to ethnic nationality; until there are no more first class and second class citizens of our dear country and until the ethnic nationality of Nigerian citizens is of no more significance than their national citizenship, until that day the dream of lasting peace, rule of law and national integration will remain an oscillating illusion to be pursued but never attained” he said.
He said that the community set up security committee to supervise and control different challenges of security breach, saying that they were working with security agencies to organize youth convention where seasoned resource persons were invited to address the youths on the current insurgency and dangers of cultism.
“Inspite of great efforts to stem the tide, the issue of cultism, armed robbery, rape among others kept rising. At the peak of the Malady, we reformed, re-equipped and repositioned our security outfit, tye Ogidi Vigilante group to effectively fight the menace. This involved a lot of funding as security tools and personnel salary are recurrent and must be taken care of, to keep the outfit going. Security maintenance is capital intensive. This is in the face of limited ways and means at our disposal. We have also tackled the problem spiritually'” Igwe Stated.
Igwe Onyido said that the town union will organize a head count of all Ogidi indigenes home and abroad where it will establish a data-base of all Ogidi Kindred’s, he said that the exercise will commence in early next year.
The traditional ruler used the occasion to honour and award of chieftaincy titles some prominent men in the state including Dozzy Oil boss, Juhel pharmaceutical company boss among others and also bestow of High Chief title to 24 illustrious sons of the town including the State Chairman of APGA Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye.
The ofala festival attracted many traditional rulers within and outside the state including the representatives of Emir of Kano and other prominent Politicians, academia, Captians of industries, Archbishop of Onitsha Most, Rec. Dr. V. M Okeke and other religious.
There was age grades parades, masquerade display of many types including the king of masquerades Ijele, also individuals and groups paid a royal homage to Igwe Onyido during the Ofala festival including NUJ Anambra State Council led by Dr. Emeka Odogwu.
