HRM Eze Monday Ugbor Celebrates New Yam Festival with Pomp

 

HRM Eze Monday Ugbor Celebrates New Yam Festival with Pomp                     …Confers Chieftaincy Titles on Well-Deserving Personalities

It was pomp and ceremony as HRM Eze Monday I. E. Ugbor, the traditional ruler of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom in Aba South local government area of Abia State celebrated the New Yam Festival this year.

The popular annual cultural event in Igbo land held at his magnificent Ezeukwu Omereoha 11 Palace under the distinguished chairmanship of Chief Sir Christian Nwaubani (Mmirioma 1 of Ubommiri).

In his opening remarks, the chairman on the occasion, Chief Sir Christian Nwaubani described the New Yam Festival as an annual thanksgiving to God and glorified Him for keeping them alive in good health to celebrate the New Yam Festival.

He described yam as the king of crops in Igbo land and prayed that God would preserve their lives to celebrate it next year.

He described HRM Eze Monday Ugbor as his very good friend and a renowned custodian of Igbo culture and tradition and wished him and his community a wonderful celebration.

Contributing, the traditional ruler of Asaokpuaja Autonomous Community in Aba South local government area of Abia State, HRH Eze Victor Ukaegbu Asonye congratulated HRM Eze Monday Ugbor on their New Yam Festival and enjoined the people to support him in showcasing their cultural heritage.

In his speech, HRM Eze Monday Ugbor thanked his numerous guests including top government officials, captains of industry and other notable personalities as well as the people of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom for gracing the occasion in their numbers.

He said that the New Yam Festival affords them the opportunity to come together to celebrate their rich cultural heritage as well as to chart a new course for the development of their community.

He thanked God for preserving their lives to celebrate the New Yam Festival this year adding that they would continue to celebrate it in the years to come by the grace of God.

The popular Royal Father and immediate past Vice Chairman, Aba South Council of Traditional Rulers used the occasion to applaud the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for his quality leadership and monumental achievements in different parts of the state within a short time in office, especially the on-going reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road, Aba, which traverses his community by Julius Berger – a leading Construction Company in the nation.

He expressed optimism that when the road is completed that it would boost commercial activities in Aba, increase the internally generated revenue of the state as well as stimulate rapid development in his community and beyond.

He assured him of their total support to his administration adding that he would fulfill his campaign promises to them.

HRM Eze Monday Ugbor also thanked Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly for honouring their invitation and commended him for the able way he is piloting the affairs of the State House of Assembly.

In his speech, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa described the New Yam Festival as an integral part of Igbo culture.

According to him, culture defines a people, and any group, tribe, society or nation that forgets their culture forgets their root and identity.

He commended HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for celebrating the New Yam Festival in his community every year.

However, he regretted that the celebration of the New Yam Festival is not popular in Ngwa land compared to the prominence and grandeur associated with it in other parts of Igbo land.

He enjoined the people not to allow anybody or anything to stop them from celebrating the New Yam Festival stressing that there is nothing fetish about it.

Highlight of the occasion was conferment of prestigious Chieftaincy titles on well-deserving personalities.

Some of those conferred with Chieftaincy titles were Chief Sir David Oforkansi Igbokwe, an illustrious son of Oraifite in Anambra State and Ide Nze Chief Uchenna Louis Igwe, a renowned businessman and great son of Akpulu.

HRM Eze Monday Ugbor advised them to see their Chieftaincy titles as a great honour and urged them to always remain good Ambassadors of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom.

In his remarks after receiving the Chieftaincy title of ‘Aku ka Ndu 1’ of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom, Chief Sir David Oforkansi Igbokwe, a renowned Aba-based cosmetics merchant appreciated HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for the honour done him.

He extolled him for demonstrating traditional rulership par excellence describing him as their inimitable role model.

He promised that the award would spur him to greater height and foster a lasting relationship between him and HRM Eze Monday Ugbor who he described as his very good friend as well as the entire community.

Contributing his elated wife, Lady Ngozi Igbokwe thanked HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for the honour done her husband and wished him long life, good health and prosperity.

On his part, Sir James Uzoma, a friend of Chief Sir David Oforkansi Igbokwe described the Chieftaincy title conferred on him as well-deserved.

The conferment of ‘Igwe Ochi na Nwata 1’ of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom on Ide Nze Chief Uchenna Louis Igwe, the ‘Igwe Chiri Eze na Nwatakiri of Akpulu’ drew resounding applause.

In his response, the renowned philanthropist and Chairman of Bottle and Iron Dealers Association, Aba expressed profound gratitude to HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for the prestigious Chieftaincy title conferred on him.

He described it as a thing of immeasurable joy and promised to sustain his cordial relationship with HRM Eze Monday Ugbor and the entire Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom as well as to assist them any time they call on him.

He thanked God for granting HRM Eze Monday Ugbor the grace to remain strong and active on the throne and prayed God to bless him more abundantly.

Speaking, his wife, Lolo Nkeiruka Uchenna Igwe expressed great delight with the Chieftaincy title conferred on her husband and promised to support him in sustaining those enviable qualities and philanthropic gestures that made HRM Eze Monday Ugbor to honour him.

She prayed God to grant HRM Eze Monday Ugbor long life, good health, riches and wisdom as he pilots the affairs of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom to greater height.

Ide Nze Chief Uchenna Louis Igwe is the President of CMO, St. John of the Cross Parish, Iheorji Aba and Chairman, Akpulu Improvement Union, Aba Branch.

He is a member of Recreation Club, Aba and Club 25, Aba. Members of both Clubs, parishioners of St. John of the Cross Parish, Iheorji Aba and others graced the occasion in their numbers.

Chief Uchenna Louis Igwe did more than what others do on such occasion. He spared no effort or resources as he feted his mammoth guests with sumptuous cuisines, choice drinks and high-end entertainment galore.

In a chat with newsmen, Chief Sir Nnaemeka Marcilinus Nkwusi, the President of Club 25, Aba expressed happiness for the great honour done their member, Chief Uchenna Louis Igwe adding that they are proud of him.

Mayor Maximus Eche Nwachukwu popularly known as Pillar who is a member of St. John of the Cross Parish, Iheorji, Aba said that the Chieftaincy title conferred on Uchenna Louis Igwe would spur him to do more for the community and mankind.

In his speech, Ide Ikechukwu Anagbuo, a pioneer member of Ideato Committee of Friends and bosom friend of Uchenna Louis Igwe expressed joy for the Chieftaincy title conferred on him adding that he would live up to expectations.

High Chief Chibueze Okiyi, the Iyi 1 of Dike Ukwu Autonomous Community, Umuopara in Umuahia South local government area of Abia State described the New Yam Festival as a thing of joy and thanksgiving to God for His benevolence and urged the people to sustain it.

In a similar vein, a member of Aba Ukwu Security Committee, Okechukwu Ndukwu Madueke (Onowu Ugochinyere 1) of Ama Opara Ancient Kingdom in Nkwerre local government area of Imo State said that the New Yam Festival is part of Igbo culture and thanked HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for celebrating it every year.

He extolled him for ensuring peace and adequate security in his domain adding that they sleep with their two eyes closed.

An illustrious son of Isuofia in Aguata local government area of Anambra State, Chief Ugochukwu Eze (Akukwesiri 1 of Aba Ukwu as well as Isuofia) praised HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for his quality rulership of Aba Ukwu Ancient Kingdom over the years.

He congratulated him on the occasion of his New Yam Festival and prayed God to grant him long life, good health and prosperity.

Chief Uchemadu John Ahiwe (Utammiri 1 of Asa Okpulor Autonomous Community in Ohabiam) commended their in-law, HRM Eze Monday Ugbor for the New Yam Festival and wished him more fruitful celebrations in the years ahead.

The occasion was a huge success and attracted the presence of notable personalities from far and near including Chief Mrs. Chidinma Nwogu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abia State, Hon. Uchenna Ugwuzor, former PDP Chairman, Aba South LGA, Chief J. C. Mbonu (Onye neme onwie), Chief Kalu Ikeogu and others.