By Toby Chuks
The palace of traditional ruler of Oraifite referred as Obi of Oraifite ancient kingdom, HRH Igwe Dr Dan Udoji came alive yesterday as stakeholders made up of members of the titled Council of Chiefs gathered for a Palace Conference to brainstorm on the progress of Anaedo clan in particular and Igboland in general. Anaedo clan is made up of three towns namely Nnewi, Oraifite and Ichi respectively.
Renowned political leader and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Dan Ulasi skillfully sparked a well acceptable discussion before the beautiful audience on the way forward with a call for the people of Nnewi, Oraifite and Ichi as children of Anaedo clan to rekindle a stronger brotherhood driven by unity of purpose.
Chief Ulasi also known Okosisi Nnewi, who spoke as a visiting Resource Person told the audience that it is time for the Anaedo children to start to hold meetings like a family with a view to chart a new cuase on how to move forward under all embracing purpose good enough to yield the desired progress of the clan.
He added “henceforth, we should start to hold meetings either at Nnewi or here in Oraifite or Ichi as a family to look at issues concerning our progress on a more critical note. The meeting is very necessary because we have what it takes to penetrate and seek favorable negotiation for our interest at all levels”.
The reknowned PDP Chieftain also harped on same unity of purpose among the five States of the Igbo nation as regards the Southeast region noting that, Igbo nation will receive the desired turn around if there are good governors working with a unity of purpose. He blamed the woes bedeviling the Southeast region to lack of good governors insisting that “we are yet to have good governors and that’s why we are not making any headway towards solving our problems”
While commending the Chairman of the Council for organizing the meeting, the Okosisi Nnewi tasked the members of the Council to always go by the truth, play according the rules of the titled Chiefs and ensure that they are solidly behind the activities of Igwe Dr Udorji in most critical areas of peace and security of Oraifite kingdom.
Also speaking, another guest speaker Mazi Tony Anyanwuakpoke who is the founder of Ejiri Mara Ndi Bu Igbo Cultural Organization said he is highly impressed to see that the good people of Oraifite are still up holiding the true culture and tradition of Ndigbo on a very high note contrary to what is obtainable in some places where people have jestisioned the culture and tradition of their father land.
According to him “what I am seeing here is not what I expected, I expected to see people who have lost the sense of what Ndigbo are known for so that I can bring them back to their senses, but what I am seeing is quite impressive because you are rightly in tune with what Ndigbo are known for. You are update with the culture and tradition of your father land and I am highly impressed.
Mazi Anyanwuakpoke who presented the audience with what he called the true Igbo calendar with Igbo days and months printed in almanac argued that it is wrong to offer traditional Igbo prayer with colanut and conclude the prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. He urged the audience to ensure that their current position in keeping to what Ndigbo are known for are upheld intact adding that it is important for Ndigbo to muster the courage to propagate and defend what they are known for.
Corroborating the guest speakers on the importance of unity of purpose and the need to uphold the culture and tradition of Ndigbo, the Chairman of the Oraifite Council of Chiefs Prince Chinedu Nsoffor (Nzedike 1) aggreed that unity of purpose is ideal vision going forward for Anaedo clan in particular and Ndigbo in general adding the members of Oraifite Council of Chiefs are ready to play their part on a vigorous note to move Anaedo clan forward.
Prince Nsoffor who is the convener and President of Igboebinie World Trade City project and CEO May Rays Schools, Onitsha, explained that the conference was staged to equip, refresh and inspire the titled Council members to be vibrant in their roles as custodians of culture and tradition saddled with onerous task of ensuring peace and stability with rapid development and progress of Oraifite of Oraifite ancient kingdom.
Earlier on, the Chief host Igwe Dr Udorji while breaking the coolant thanked God for His blessings and mercies upon mankind and prayed that God will continue to guide Oraifite and Igboland in general to greater heights with wisdom, knowledge, understanding and passion for peace and welfare of one another.
