IKPEAZU’S GIANT STRIDES COMMENDED BY IBEKU MONARCHS.

#AbiaOnline
Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has been commended for his developmental strides in the State. This commendation came from H.R.H Eze Edward Ibeabughichi (JP), Okwu 1 of Okwulaga Autonomous Community in Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North LGA. He said this during this year’s Afaraukwu Ibeku Iri Ji (New Yam Festival).
Eze Ibeabughichi particularly thanked the Governor for ensuring development went round the three Senatorial Zones of the State, stating that the “Caterpillar Revolution” going on in the State was a sign of better things to come.
In her response, the Chairman, Abia State Tourism and Services Development Board, Barr. Ngozi Nwangwa who was a “Distinguished Guest” at the Iri Ji, said she came with goodwill message from the Governor. She reiterated Dr. Ikpeazu’s commitment tailored towards the promotion of culture, unity and peaceful co-existence of Abia communities. Mrs Nwangwa used the occasion to intimate Abians on her Board’s on-going tour of Tourism Sites in the seventeen (17) LGAs of the State.
She further hinted that festivities like Iri Ji Ibeku would be promoted and sold to the world as one of the State’s Tourism products. Barr. Nwangwa informed her audience that she and her team would be visiting Umuahia North in no distant time to identify and evaluate their Tourism potentials.
Earlier in the day, the Abia Tourism Sites Visitation (ATSV) were at Orieogwu Market Square, Okwulaga, Afaraukwu Ibeku for the Iwa Ji ritual and Iri Ji proper with the three Traditional Rulers of Afaraukwu presiding over the ceremony.
The monarchs were HRM Eze I O KANU, Egwu Ukwu 11 of Afaraukwu Ibeku, HRH Eze Ukaegbu (JP) and HRH Eze Edward Ibeabughichi, Okwu 1 of Okwulaga who was this year’s host.
In their separate speeches, the Afaraukwu Ibeku traditional rulers enumerated the significance of Iri Ji, one of which is being unifying force in the community and a sense of identity. The traditional rulers also hinted at its spiritual benefits as it is a thanksgiving ceremony to God Almighty who has blessed the land with abundant food with yam, the king of crops.
On the Touri-business side of the New Yam festival, the Royal Fathers assured they would fully harness its potentials in subsequent editions, especially now the State Government, through its relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are showing more than a passing interest in the sector.
Also speaking the President General of Egwu Afaraukwu, Ibeku, Chief Engr. Chukwuemeka Ezebuiro thanked the Governor for supporting and promoting Tourism, arts and culture in the State.
Iri Ji Ohuru (New Yam Festival), a very popular festivity in Ibeku and many parts of Abia State, comes in divergent traditions and rites. For the people of Ibeku ancient Kingdom, it commences with Iwa Ji, Iri Ji, a procession, the Ekpe dance and the slaughter of the Sacrificial Goat.
This year’s Iri Ji Afaraukwu was celebrated in collaboration with Abia State Tourism and Services Development Board.