Obi of Onitsha shuns Soludo’s New Yam festival

Chinedum Treasure

Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe was absent at the 2024 new yam festival organized by Anambra State government.

The event, held last Saturday at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, was graced by dignitaries, including government functionaries, traditional and religious leaders, among others.

Achebe’s visible absence, according to observers, might not be unconnected with the rift between him and Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Soludo had last month, shunned the Onitsha Ofala festival organised by the revered royal father held at Imeobi which attracted personalities from all works of life.

The governor, who has been a regular guest at the annual festival, and even promised to partner with the monarch to boost the festival, failed to send a congratulatory message to Achebe.

Things reportedly fell apart after Soludo suspended Igwe Ezeani of Neni who conferred title on late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who was planning to challenge Soludo’s reelection before his demise last September.

The state government suspended Ezeani alongside two, drawing the fury of Obi of Onitsha, who doubles as Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council in Anambra.

Achebe, in an open letter to the state government, had accused Soludo of not respecting traditional institutions in the state.

Soludo, on his part, later conveyed a meeting at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, where he waved olive branch.

But speaking at the latest edition of Ofala festival, Achebe regretted that while other states in Nigeria were working towards enhancing the relevance of traditional institutions, Anambra’s is being diminished.

He said he was surprised to discover that the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRC), which he headed, had been dissolved and labeled an illegal group.

Meanwhile, Governor Soludo has assured farmers in the state of his administration commitment to supporting them to boost yam production in the state in the coming years.

Speaking during the iri ji festival, the governor said his administration would achieve food sufficiency for the state through its strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders including his wife farming initiative and support to local farmers.

He noted that in the coming year, his Government will focus more on Agriculture to curb the trending hunger in the state and the country at large..

He described the New Yam Festival as an ancient Igbo cultural heritage through which unity is promoted among the people and said his administration will continue to support positive aspects of the Igbo culture.

The Governor stressed the importance of agriculture in the state’s economy, especially the age-long Igbo value of “hard work pays”.

The Governor said that the government was committed to encouraging people to farm to feed, which has the potential to create jobs, increase revenue and crash the food prices in the market.

“This is the pre-eminent cultural day we have in Igbo land. We have a special celebration for new yams.

“Today, Anambra as a state, officially unveiled the new yam festival. Several communities had done so before now.

“The symbolism of it, is that we are celebrating it as a state.

“Here, we have the traditional rulers representing the three senatorial zones. We use this to signify yam as the king of crops.

“Some time ago, we launched the farm to feed initiative in the midst of the hunger protest. Complaining about hunger is not the Igbo tradition.

“I encourage you to look for a space around where you live and cultivate what to eat. This will reduce the prices of goods in the market, the governor stated.

Performing the yam cutting ritual, the traditional ruler of Okpuno in Awka South Council Area, Igwe Sunday Okafor said although the various communities of the state have done their Iwaji, the event is unique as it has prospects for the sustenance of the peace, unity and stability in the state.

Earlier, Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment, Comrade Don Onyenji described the event as significant.

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