The culture, tradition and norms of Ogbunka community in Orumba South Council Area was brought to the fore as the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Johnmark Anyaoha performed the 2023 new yam festival of the community.

 

The festival which took place at Igwe’s Palace, started with a thanksgiving mass where they appreciated God for a bountiful harvest.

Ndi Ichie from the five villages that make up the community and members of the royal cabinet were all present during the ceremony.

 

Also present were the Ụmụ Okpu and other groups in the community who came to felicitate with Igwe Anyaoha on this year’s celebration.

Igwe Anyaoha also conducted yam competition for farmers in the community during the ceremony where they were presented with different prizes to encourage them to expand their farming activities.

 

During the Kolanut ritual, Igwe Anyaoha prayed their ancestors and gods to keep blessing their land and subjects, to give them long life, prosperity and breakthrough in all their endeavours.

Igwe Onyaoha said that the celebration of the new yam is a way of showing appreciation to God in order to attract more blessings, development and progress from Him for the community.

The Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba South Local Government Area, Prince Neville Uchendu, expressed delight for the unity and oneness found in Ogbunka noting that Igwe Anyaoha has the community at heart and has continued to fight tooth and nail to ensure progress and development of the community.

 

Earlier during the thanksgiving mass, Reverend Father Jeremiah Okafor asked the community to rally round their traditional ruler and promote peace and togetherness to enhance development.

 

Speaking on behalf of all the traditional rulers that graced the occasion, the traditional ruler of Owerre-Ezukala, Igwe Thomas Ogbonnaya commended Igwe Anyaoha for all the positive changes witnessed in the community since his enthronement and prayed that God gives him long reign and wisdom to pilot the affairs of the community.

Lending their voices, the Chief of Staff to Igwe Anyaoha, Chief Sunday Ndubisi, the Palace Secretary, Chief Benard Eze, Mrs Godgift Tabugbo and Youth President Nnaemeka Okonkwo, thanked God for the gift of Igwe Anyaoha, noting that light, breakthrough and success set in into the community immediately he became their monarch.

 

Igwe Anyaoha in company of his guests, later monitored the road project being constructed by Governor Soludo and inaugurated a special security taskforce, while presentations of gifts to Igwe, masquerade displays and other side attractions featured at the Ihejioku festival.