Gov Soludo declares Ndigbo are not kidnappers – at Anambra New Yam Festival
The splendour, glamour, and brotherliness of the celebration were bolstered by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s public remark on the occasion of the 2023 New Yam Festival in Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square Awka on October 21, that Ndigbo are not kidnappers and they do not dwell in the bush.
Ndigbo are not known for kidnapping or killing their own brothers for ransom, but rather for their industry, resilience, stoicism, intrepidity, and the ability to make a dry land fertile for cultivation, as evidenced by the fact that the winner of the 2023 Diji grew the largest yam and Governor Soludo, rather than settling for the initial N100,000 prize money, decided out of his own benevolence and magnanimi
Ndi-Anambra celebrated the occasion with roasted yams seasoned with ose, ukpaka, azu, utazi, red oil, and washed down with fresh palm wine, while listening to Soludo’s reassuring statements about his administration’s commitment to making Anambra soil more fertile for cultivation, as reported by Daily Independent.
Traditional rulers, town union leaders, Ohaneze Ndigbo, and a whole host of other people and organisations enjoyed the acrobatic performances of masquerades and different cultural groups from the state’s 179 communities spread across the 21 local government areas.
It’s true that Soludo was talking out of both sides of his mouth when he declared that the Ndigbo are not kidnappers but are instead renowned for their respectability and hard work in the workplace. He said that the purpose of the Iri-ji festival was to showcase the cultural riches of Anambra State to the outside world.
The governor emphasised that culture encompasses all aspects of Ndigbo identity, not simply dances. This includes clothing, grooming, speech, and demeanour.
Soludo explained that the Ndigbo culture includes a celebration of labour, and he emphasised that the new yam festival is a crowning of the year’s labour because yam is the king of all crops. According to him, the Igbo culture places a premium on honesty, kindness, and hard labour. The Ndigbo are a caring people that support one another and ensure nobody gets left behind.
Free antenatal and delivery care, free education policy, free distribution of coconut and palm seedlings to empower people for life, and a host of other social services are just a few examples of how Soludo’s administration is reflecting the essential values of Ndigbo in its policies and initiatives.
What the governor said about the Igbo people’s values and traditions was backed up by Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the royal father of the 2023 iri-ji festival of Anambra State and the traditional ruler of Onitsha. According to Igwe Achebe, a people’s culture is reflected not just in performances like dances and masquerades, but in everything they do. He knew that many Ndigbo had abandoned their traditional morals in favour of material success in the fast lane. Therefore, Igwe Achebe insisted that the core values of Ndigbo are very important, and he claimed that there is an immediate need to return to those core principles for which Ndigbo are famous. He also revealed that the Southeast Traditional Rulers’ Council, Representatives of Archbishops, and Bishops of Igbo origin are currently discussing how to best restore Igbo core values so that Ndigbo can rediscover themselves.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs, said theiIri-ji festival was a way to promote the cultural heritage of Ndi-Anambra and also unite the people in accordance with Soludo’s manifesto of making Nigeria a place where people want to live, love, and prosper.
Nwabunwanne stated that he agreed with the governor’s statement that “Ndigbo are not kidnappers,” and that “culture is all about uniting one another and uniting the communities for the greater good of all and sundry,” and that the 2023 New Yam Festival of Anambra State was a joint effort between the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Entertainment.
The Commissioner for Culture, Tourism, and Entertainment, Comrade Don Onyenji, also praised Soludo for his contributions to making the iri-ji festival a huge success. The governor’s statement that kidnapping and hostage taking are not part of Igbo culture was confirmed by Onyenji, who claimed the governor was completely correct. The values of perseverance, honesty, and mutual affection are honoured in Igbo society.
During the 2023 Iwa-ji festival of Anambra State, Chairman Ihiala Local Government Area Hon. Anayochukwu Charles Orjiako could not contain his joy and happiness. Ndi-Anambra were entertained by the masquerades and other cultural dancers.
While celebrating the event, Orjiako told our correspondent that the new yam celebration has been held annually by the Ndigbo for generations. He claimed that the iri-ji holiday was more widely celebrated in the preliterate era than the Jewish Christmas feast.
To emphasise the necessity and relevance of the unity inherent in Igbo culture and traditions, he praised Governor Soludo’s plan to have all of Anambra’s citizens gather for a single celebration.
