…Says, “We Don’t Want Our Land Desecrated With Political War”
Following the spat between Governor Rochs Okorocha and the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha at the Iri Ji Mbaise Fetsival penultimate weekend, the people of Omuma clan in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday barred the governor and governorship aspirants in the state from attending their own festival.
Our reporter noticed that apart from the governor and other governorship aspirants who were not present at the event, the member representing Orlu Senatorial Zone, Senator Hope Uzodinma, who hails from the community, was also absent at the event that had thousands of people in attendance.
Speaking with journalists at the event which took place at the Central School Omuma playground, the President General of Omuma Consultative Union, OCU, Chief Dan Nwanojuo, said the reason behind the decision was to prevent politicians from desecrating their land with their political wars.
“You know this situation where you go to New Yam Festivals and politicians fight there and disrupt what is supposed to be cultural activities with political war is unacceptable to us. So in order not to curse any politician with the name of our ancestors, we decided to avoid it by not inviting them because our place is a very peaceful clan”, Nwanojuo explained.
He noted that the event was the clan’s annual cultural day when “we celebrate our culture and the harvest of our farm inputs represented by yams. Through this, we instill in our youths the essence of farming which most of them are running away from.
“Through this, we invite our kits and keens at home and in abroad to return home to witness. That is why you have seen these thousands of people here”.
He said this year’s event coincided with the registration of voters which would soon commence in the state, adding that the event had united the constituting communities more than ever before.
