By Olivia Obijiaku
Ndigbo in Zaria celebrated the 2024 New Festival at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pastoral Centre on Sunday, 22nd September, 2024. In his welcome address, the Ezeigbo II of Zaria, Igwe V.I Unogu (KSM, JP) intimated that the celebration which started from time immemorial is meant to thank God for bountiful harvest and pray for His blessing in forthcoming year.
He awarded chieftaincy titles to deserving individuals even as he enjoined Ndigbo to remain law abiding citizens and to represent the Igbo Nation well wherever they find themselves.
“The New Yam Festival Celebration by the Igbos is as old as the first ancient settlers in the tropical Eastern part of Nigeria.” The mouthpiece explained. “It has been a well-established custom and tradition that Igbos celebrate yearly wherever they reside. Traditionally, the role of cutting the new yam (Iwa Ji) and eating the new yam (Iri Ji) in any community in Igbo land or Igbo settlement is performed by the Traditional Head, the Igwe himself. Before eating the new yam, he offers the yam to God in prayer before cutting it and eating, followed immediately by every guest present at the occasion, as the traditional music goes on at the background.”
“Therefore, I, Igwe V.I Unogu (Ọnwa), the Traditional Head of the Igbos resident here in Zaria and by extension Zazzau Emirate, hereby today, offer this new yam and all the yams and other foods to be eaten by the residents of Zaria and Zazzau Emirate as a whole throughout this year to God Almighty for His blessings – for them to build and nourish our bodies in Jesus Name, Amen.”
Igwe Unogu thanked the Kaduna State Government of Sen. Uba Sani; the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Amb Ahmed Bamalli and the entire members of the Zazzau Emirate Council for considering him worthy to be elevated as Sarkin Igbo Zazzau (Eze Igbo Zazzau). He pledged his unalloyed allegiance and unequivocal loyalty to the Government
Under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof Ken Okoli of Department of Fine Arts, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the event witnessed huge turnout of individuals and groups, including representatives of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Addressing the audience, a representative of NNPP and the spokesman of the party in Sabon Gari Local Government, Hon Saladeen Mai Allah, who was accompanied by over ten delegates apologized for the absence of their National Chairman, National Organizing Chairman, National Organizing Secretary, State Chairman and other party stakeholders at the occasion. “On behalf of our and presidential aspirant, Engr. Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso,” He continued “We are here to celebrate together with our Igbo brothers and sisters. NNPP has come to Sabo Gari and Igbo Community is the first community that Kwankwasiyya has visited officially. We are here together with our vice chairman aspirant, Mrs. Kuso. We are the only party in the whole of Kaduna State that has chosen a female as the vice chairman in this election.”
He solicited for their votes in the forthcoming Local Government Council election, promising that the party would put an end to the present challenges confronting the nation and her citizens if voted into power.
Just before the Iri Ji at the Pastoral Centre, Igwe Unogu performed the Iwa Ji ritual in his Palace and conferred Chieftaincy Awards to the following personalities who were also issued corresponding certificates in recognition of their contribution to the growth and welfare of Ndigbo in Zaria: Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Abuja (Okwuru Oha Gburugburu); Chief Mark Chidi Obetta; AIG Mohammed Abbas FWC RTD, (Nwanne Di Na-Mba); SP Ibrahim Zubairu, (Enyi Oha); Chief Sunday Oputa, (Ugwu Mba); Chief Chinedu Obi, (Chinyelu Ugo I Na Zazzau); Chief Frank O. Ezenoche, (Omeka Odimma I Na Zazzau); Chief Ikechukwu Chigbo, (Ogbuefi Ugo Na-Abu); and Chief Onyeka James Okeke, (Ogbuefi Nwachinemere I Na Zazzau).
