It was a merriment galore at Oraukwu, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, country home of President General of Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, Chief Ndubisi Ochiogu, when he was flanked by his wife, Mrs Easther Ochiogu, and celebrated the 2023 newyam festival with scores of traders from the said market, well wishers and indigenes of Oraukwu community.
Chief Ochiogu, a traditionalist, while praying during the cutting of the newyam to commence the celebration, disclosed that people run away from tradition because it kills sinners instantly, unlike in the he church where one is giving ample opportunity to repent his sins.
He prayed God for abundant farm harvest next year pointing by out that newyam festival which is called ‘Ilo Mmuo,’ is a period of harvest of farm produce to be eaten and thanking God for next year farming.
His words, “Newyam is originally called Ahiajioku or Ilo Mmuo, but you people call it newyam festival. It is a period of harvesting farm produce to be eaten and at the same time thank God for the abundant harvest and preparaty for next season farming.
“I decided to have a low key newyam celebration but you can see that my compound is full to capacity upon the fact that I only informed few people. The Youth Council of my community I did not inform them but you can see that they are here with others. The thing is that whoever that hears it tells others and before you know it, the entire place is full.
“It is because of the joy people have for me, they know I always believe in the truth and you can’t see any one smoking cigarettes in my compound, it is forbidden. We pray that next year newyam celebration will be greater than this,” he prayed.
Contributing, his wife, Mrs Easther, thanked God that her husband who was sacked rrom the market on baseless allegations has finally been reinstated adding that it was when Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo found out that his hands were clean that the Governor reinstated him.
She used the opportunity of the newyam celebration to also commend the Governor’s wife, Nonyelu Solud ok, for her motherly care to women, the sick, children and all those in need and urged her not to relent as Good would always replenish what ever she spent.
She described the newyam festival as one carried out by her husband to fete the people adding that to people ate, drank and danced to satisfaction as it was a period of merriment.
In his contribution, the chairman of Ogbo Yoruba at Ogbaru Relief (Main) market, Chief Chukwuma Akika, said that the celebrant was his master and friend, adding that the traders came to felicitate with him in the newyam festival as mark of solidarity.
On the fear that tradition is going g into extinction he said that he also nursed the feeling as most people now talked of technology.
In his own contribution, the Assistant secretary of the market, Chief Bucknor Agu, disclosed that Chief Ochiogu, as a leader, should be celebrated for the good work he has been doing in the market.
“We are here for his newyam festival, newyam is an annual event of the Igbo people. To harvest and eat the farm produce and prepare for the next farming season. It is a period we thank God for the ABI dant farm produce,” he hinted.
In their different cobtributions, the Vice chairman and treasurer of Oraukwu Youth Council, Okoji Ebuka and Kenechukwu Ogbunamkpu, respectively, disclosed that the celebrant was one of their patrons who has continued to fight for better welfare of the members.
According to the duo, Chief Ochiogu is a born leader who was always interested in the progress and well-being of fellow human beings.
