April 27, (THEWILL)- The people of Ikwo in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State, has celebrated 2024 cultural festival with fanfare, showcasing her different cultural heritage.
The 2024 Amagu Erimaogwudu Aji Ereke Cultural Carnival, was held at Nduofoke Amagu Play ground, in Ikwo Local Government Area.
Speaking at the event, the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, represented by his deputy, Patricia Obila, described the celebration as a celebration of the identity of the community and of the state.
He said, “We are here because the cultural heriatage of this community is intact. We are here to celebrate the identity of this state and this community. Every community should celebrate the identity of this state and its community. Any one that does not know where he comes from will not know where he is going to.
“We are here to thank our gods and to bless our land so that by the time we plant our crops, we will reap bountifully. By the time I came here, I saw the beauty of the land, I saw the beauty of the people and every good thing in this land. This is to show that our brother Chinedu Ogah, I do not know how to quantify him. If we can have two or three of his kind, this country will have a good look. You have started this one week ago and today is the grand finale”, he said
In this remarks, the member representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency and House Committee Chairman on Reformatory Institutions, Rt. Hon.Chinedu Ogah, who recalled that for almost fifteen years, the community was in war with neighbouring Cross River community.
He appreciated the governor for his peaceful disposition and vowed that the celebration would continue in subsequent years in order to deepen unity in the community.
Ogah said, “We always have eight days events. This eight days events end today. At the ens of that eight days, we gather in one place and celebrate it as a carnival. We have done that in various villages. We are celebrating this because we have a governor that has made us to have peace.
“For almost about fifteen years, we are at war with our neigbouring state here, Cross River. But since our dear governor came on board, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who have never heard any gun shot in the boundary.
“He appointed of our sons as commissioners for boarder peace, attorney general and culture. This is irrespective that the commissioner for culture is writing against us. He is part of it we welcome him.
“We are celebrating this culture because apart from Izzi clan, it is Amagu that our governor has the highest votes. The culture today is celebration of unity. Here we eat together, we drink together and dance together. There is no demacration and that is how our culture is.
“When I was elected, I made it as part of my project that every year, I will be voting money for us to celebrate this culture. By next year, I am going to vote in one hundred million. By next year, we are going to involve the international community in this culture because the governor has shown us the way and we have to bring peace to his government. We have to give him support. We want the 20 wards in Ikwo to continue to give him support.
In an earlier goodwill message, Mathias Adum, Principal Secretary and Chairman of the occasion decried the erosion of Nigeria’s culture and commended Ogah for reawakening the spirit of the people towards cultural revival.
“For him to remember that culture is the root of our existenc is very cricial. The friegn cultural has eroded our cultural milleau. Culture binds and unites us together. He is remindumg us that we should go back to our culture. In youth empowerment, he is leading. He is full of rouburst energy and he is using it in a positive way.
Cultural display, processional march by women, maqurades display. Oyawa, Opinya cultural display and presentation of gifts were parts activities that featured during the event.
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