Igbo urged to think towards culture, tradition
The Igbo have been called upon to retrace their steps and thinking towards their culture and tradition.
A prominent son of Ogbodiukwu community in Umuahia South L.G.A, of Abia State, Chief Onyebuchi Sunday Emekobom (Eze Nwakaibeya) made the call at his residence on Sunday during a special new yam festival organized by him.
Regretting that Igbos have lost so many of their traditions, Emekobom lamented that in Igboland, only few persons can remember what new yam festival is all about, stating that the attitude is not healthy for the Igbos.
He said that if no rapid measure is taken, “one will someday sleep, only to wake up to observe that Igbo culture has gone into extinction”.
He decried cultural imperialism and the advent of Christian religion which he said contributed its quota in making Igbo’s rebel against their healthy culture and tradition. “So that is why I decided to revive it. We should continue with our culture and tradition. We should not allow it to die. We should not also allow Igbo language to die. Let us not neglect it”.
He debunked the erroneous believe as held in some quarter that new yam festival is fetish, pointing out clearly that the festival is all about appreciating God who made it possible for a farmer to plant and be alive to harvest his crop bountifully. He said, “new yam festival is just like other festivals. It is not fetish.
When asked if he bought the yam from the market he said, “The yam I celebrated was cultivated and harvested from my farm. I am a yam farmer. I want to seize this opportunity to call on our people to celebrate yams cultivated by them”.
Speaking to newsmen, a former local government Transition Committee Chairman, Hon. Emenike Onuoha said the host is using the new yam celebration to create awareness and sensitize the youth and farmers on the need to genuinely embrace agriculture.
He advised that since oil has failed, Nigerians should go back to farming, reminding all that the founding fathers of Nigeria like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Okpara and others never believed in oil. “Our founding fathers believed in farming, that was why we could boost of the groundnut pyramid then. So what Eze Nwakaibeya is doing today is to create an enlightenment, we are so glad to associate with him”.
Speaking also, a close friend to the host, Hon. Patrick Umekwe described the event as a big encouragement to farmers who should bear in mind that when they toiled to plant their seed/crop, they will equally harvest and eat happily.
He encouraged farmers not to be deterred by the present economic situation ravaging the country, expressing hope that in the near future, farmers will be recognized and placed on their rightful position in the country.
In his speech, Chief Emmanuel Egwu, a blossom friend to the host described agriculture as a green alternative to oil, stating that with the trend of event in the country, one do not need to be called upon before going into farming.
