By Toby Chuks
It was another moment of grove and glory in the ancient kingdom of Ogidi just as the people of the ancient kingdom along with their friends and well wishers converged in their numbers to celebrate the annual Nwafor Ogidi festival. As usual the festival showcased the cultural heritage and the great virtues of Ogidi people at its fullest with notable sons and daughters of the soil both at home and in diaspora available to be part of the festival.
It is of note that during the festival the people individually or in group in their respective locations across the town organize functions to appreciate the legacies of the ancestors, give thanks to God, make merry and entertain visitors. Among such individuals is the Chairman/CEO Leophine Group High Chief Engr Emeka Ken Nwabueze who is the Ajie Okpalla Ogidi.
Speaking about the at a special function he hosted in respect of the festival in his domain known as Ajie Okpalla Ogidi Square located at Ire Ogidi, Nwabueze gave details of what the annual festival is all about describing it as a time during which the good people of Ogidi celebrate their cultural heritage and virtues as a great people of Igboland to the glory of God with merry, joy and sober reflection.
Starting rhetorically he said “Ogidi I greet all you, I am happy that it is another Nwafor and I am proud to say that we are here to celebrate ourselves as a great people because Ogidi has everything that makes us a great people. We are here to celebrate our culture as bequeathed on us by our ancestors. We are here to appreciate the goodness and mercy of God, to celebrate our virtues, our harvest and achievements of the year and to prepare ourselves to go back to the farm with hardworking for greater harvest ahead”
He observed with joy that Ogidi is growing and fast developing owing to the fact that the people are progressing adding that the 2025 edition of the festival is much more unique in the sense that the atmosphere of life is conducive with peace, security and calmness in the land. He attributed the conducive atmosphere to the skillful community leadership of the traditional ruler of Ogidi HRM of Igwe Pharm Alex Onyido along with the town union under the administration of Chief Okoye Ikwuka as the President General of Ogidi town union.
While commending Igwe Onyido, the President General, the village heads and security operatives including Police and vigilante outfit for waging effective fight against crime in Ogidi he advised the Youth to always endeavor to give blind eyes to crime and embrace being occupied with handiwork, being educated, take patience to learn trade on apprentice and how to do business with hardworking, creativity and prayer believing that God who has always been of help to humanity will help them to achieve success in life.
In his remark, the President General, Chief Okoye commended the Okpalla Ogidi for what he described as “his passion for the welfare of Ogidi” noting that he is doing wonderfully well in his role as Ajie Okpalla Ogidi. “Ajie is contributing marvelously in moving Ogidi forward and we are very proud of him. Our prayer is that God will continue to bless him, guide and protect him so that he will continue to do what is he is doing for the development and progress of Ogidi”
Also speaking the Parish Priest of Our Lady’s Catholic parish Ogidi Rev Fr Dr Patrick Agba also commended the Okpalla Ogidi describing him as a man with passion to think home noting that “his interest in what is happening at his village is exceptional because he belongs to the top echelon having served as a Special Adviser to a President of the United States of America and yet he is always available to participate in what is happening in the village. His think home philosophy is worthy of emulation by other Igbo sons and daughters in foreign countries”
