The monarch of Issele-Uku Kingdom, HRM Obi Nduka was impressed that the traditional New Year festival of the community keeps getting better, maintaining that the advancement is a result of cultural innovation, peaceful coexistence and the enormous support of the people.
Obi Nduka stated this while granting interviews to journalists after the first ‘ime uje’ and ‘Inaka’ with the Onotu chiefs at the Palace ground.
He appreciated his subjects for understanding that peace, unity and love for one another are critical elements for human and community development, affirming that the manifestation is so enormous in the transformation agenda for Issele-Uku.
The monarch admonished them not to get tired irrespective of the fact that the local government area now has a Council Chairman with the compassion of leadership to work in a way that pleases the people.
According to him, “I am pleased with the development that is coming into Issele-Uku and the rest of Aniocha North Local Government Area. Never in history have we witnessed such grassroots development as we are seeing in Aniocha North Local Government Area today, not even when it is believed that local government is the closest government to the people.
“Let me say that it has been a wonderful, peaceful and bountiful year for us in Issele-Uku. We commenced our traditional New Year festival known as Ine Aho Festival a while ago; it’s a combination of different festive activities and of course, the new yam (Iwaji) is one such. In days to come, I will personally eat the new yam after every other person has eaten, from children to non-titled men and titled men.
“Let me advise that we should continue to thread on the path of peace, unity and love even as we mark the end of this season and begin another. My prayer is that God will continue to endow us with strength for the planting season and good production in the harvest season. It shall continue to be well with Issele-Uku”, Obi Nduka prayed.
This 2024 edition of the Ine festival was awesome. The Committee that did the wonders was headed by Chief (Dr) John Ochei who incidentally led other Olinzeles to perform the Inaka, as Iyase and Oza were unavoidably absent during this period.
Chief Ochei who was full of praises to God for the clemency of the weather before the ‘Ishu Onicha’, ascribed the uniqueness of the Ine Ahor Festival to the understanding of who we are as the people of Issele-Uku, our unalloyed reverence to the king and our cooperation and support towards community efforts.
He therefore called on all Issele-Uku sons and daughters to never relent in ensuring that we continue to showcase the identity of who we are to the world through our impeccable culture.
However, one of Issele-Uku’s sons, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi who has continued to feature in most Ine Ahor Festivals in his adult age, was present with his children, friends and aides to pay homage to the king and play his part as a true and bonafide Issele-Uku son.
As a member representing Aniocha North Constituency and Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly, he assured that the projects meant for Issele-Uku as the local government headquarters, including that of other communities, must be vigorously pursued through lobbying until they become reality.
