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• South East leaders renew call for political solution to insecurity
From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka
One of the prominent traditional festivals showcasing rich cultural heritage of Ndigbo is the Ofala festival. This festival is exclusively for traditional rulers in the South Eastern part of Nigeria.
•VP Shettima being honoured by Igwe Robert Eze
Apart from the festivities that go with it, Ofala festival affords the traditional ruler the opportunity to reach out to other kingdoms, friends and allies who have contributed in one way or the other to the development of his kingdom.
It also affords the traditional ruler the opportunity to consolidate his grasp on the throne. However, even in the event of the transition of the king, this particular festival has never failed to hold; instead, the last Ofala is celebrated, marking the end of the reign of the king and signalling the vacancy at the throne.
•Prince Arthur Eze discussing with Ganduje
During this ceremony, the traditional ruler takes the opportunity to make appeal or demands of whatever need of his people are to the leaders and honour them with chieftaincy titles.
This particular aim was achieved on Saturday, December 23, when South East governors used the opportunity of 32nd Ofala festival of Igwe Dr. Robert Eze of Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, to appeal to President Bola Tinubu, to deploy political solution in ending the insecurity in the region. The event marked 32 years the monarch ascended the throne of his fathers as the Okofia VI of Dunukofia.
•Deputy Speaker Kalu having Igbo traditional handshake with Ganduje
During the festival that attracted Nigerian President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prominent Nigerians both home and abroad, the ceremony featured among others, conferment of various chieftaincy titles on leaders of the nation.
Among those honoured by Eze were President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the immediate past Minister for Science and Technology and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.
In what looked like a display of resilience and show of how important the event was to President Tinubu, not even the burial of the father of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, which coincided with the Ofala, could deter invited guests from attending the ceremony in grand style.
Performing the traditional rites of conferring chieftaincy titles on Tinubu and Onu, the traditional ruler of Ukpo, Igwe Dr Robert Eze, described the duo as great leaders and pillars of hope and peace. Eze, who is the younger brother of billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, said the choice of the beneficiaries was informed by their track records and disposition for peace.
While Eze Udo (king of peace) tittle was conferred on Tinubu, Onu was honoured with the title of Dike-Ora Ndigbo (Great hero of the Igbo). National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was conferred with the title of Agunaechemba (the tiger that defends the town).
Tinubu was represented by Shettima who was also honoured with the chieftaincy title of Enyi Ndigbo (Friend of the Igbo). In his remarks, Tinubu, who spoke Shetima, expressed profound appreciation to Igwe Eze for finding them worthy of the great honour.
He said: “Be rest assured Your Majesty Igwe Okofia VI, that in addition to my heartfelt joy on this historic occasion, my principal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, equally felt humbled and honoured the moment I told him I was coming to receive the titles here in your palace.
“He directed me to convey his best wishes and gratitude for this conferment. As you celebrate the 32nd Ofala celebration under your reign, we wish you more years of service to God and humanity. May you live long to celebrate annually in good health.
“And to you, Prince Engr Arthur Eze (Ozoigbondu), the man with a heart of gold, a great son of Africa, who has investments from Namibia to Burkina Faso. Recently, you donated billions of naira for sectoral interventions in Anambra State. For all these, we are very proud of you. Thank you so much and may God continue to bless and replenish you.”
The vice-president further stated that the South East will get its full share of even distribution of democracy dividends from the administration of President Tinubu, adding that “some leaders like Hope Uzodimma, Dave Umahi and Onu had laid strong foundation for re-integrating the South East into the mainstream politics.
“I have no doubts that the process of repositioning Ndigbo to the mainstream of Nigerian politics has commenced in earnest. Senators Uche Ekwunife and Ifeanyi Ubah just joined the APC. These are successful and credible individuals that command great respect in Nigerian politics.”
Shettima also poured encomiums on the resilient spirit of the Igbo and their entrepreneurial spirit of opening and developing every part of the country they find themselves, describing them as liberal and peaceful people. He used the occasion to pay tributes to the undying nature of Ndigbo to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria.
“Wherever you go in this country and you do not see an Igbo man or Hausa man from Kano especially, better run away from that place because nothing good can come out of your stay therein. I am happy to identify with you people. I want to salute you for your hard work, enterprising spirit and determination to succeed in the face of daunting challenges.
“Rest assured that my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is determined to redefine the political leadership of this country in such a way that burning issues would be addressed. We will work assiduously to ensure that Ndigbo are well represented in the governance of this country,” Shettima stated.
Also speaking, Onu expressed great appreciation for the honour done him and said he will double his efforts towards sustaining peace in the country and South East in particular. The former Abia State governor said he felt greatly honoured to identify with Nigerian leaders that came to associate with them all the way from Abuja, for squeezing out time from their tight schedules to spend time with them in the zone and for giving the Igbo firm promise that will certainly address the prevailing challenges and foster renewed sociopolitical ties across the component regions of the country.
In her remarks, Director General of South East Governors’ Forum, Senator Uche Ekwunife described the honour done to Tinubu, Vice Shettima, Onu, Ganduje and others as well-deserved. She said the present configuration of the Tinubu-led administration has given the South East the opportunity to embrace all necessary steps towards re-integrating the zone to the mainstream politics at the centre.
Ekwunife said: “It behoves the good people of South East geopolitical zone to embrace this proposal aimed at engendering a new partnership of fairness and peaceful coexistence among all federating units irrespective of our diversities.”
She also said that the “speedy and effective implementation of the vice president’s declaration here today depends on our willingness to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and I’m confident that the Igbo are as keen as seeing better days, harmonious peace, and immediate restoration of sanity to our once peaceful region.”
At the front burner of all speeches made by various speakers was the issue of addressing agitations in the zone which have been identified as the nucleus of insecurity in the zone.
To this end, the South East Governors, who spoke through their Director General, appealed to the President to look for political solution to end insecurity in the zone by addressing the agitations.
“I will also like to seize this opportunity to appeal to our father, Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy his wealth of knowledge towards finding a lasting solution to the alarming scale of agitations and insecurity across the country, especially in the South East region, because the South East Governors cannot do it alone.
“If one roundtable attempt fails, let us convene another because until we show total commitment to the restoration of normalcy in the South East, the zone may yield to palpable implosion, given the volatile tendency of unresolved sociopolitical issues.
“I remain forever grateful to His Majesty Igwe Dr Robert Eze and Prince Dr Arthur Eze (Ozoigbondu) for bringing you to our homeland and unlocking this window of renewed collaboration. May God continue to give our traditional, political and spiritual leaders the wisdom to lead by example as we witnessed today,” Ekwunife said.
