Polycarp Sola -Abakaliki
Ojiji, a cultural heritage of the Izzi clan in Ebonyi State, is when the people celebrate the beginning of a new traditional year as well as the new yam festival.
As they celebrate the grand finale, today, the chairman of the Abakaliki rice mill industry, Comrade Obeji Linus, has saluted the clan and lauded Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for upholding the culture.
In his goodwill message, Obeji congratulated his people, both home and in diaspora, and urged them to celebrate peacefully, acknowledging the tradition as a means of unifying them.
“I wish my people a peaceful celebration, both at home and in diaspora; let us celebrate in peace and progress, and acknowledge the fact that this is our common cultural heritage that we should uphold for generations yet to come.” Obeji said.
He emphasized the importance of the tradition as the people’s way of life, which has been practiced for ages, while calling on them to uphold it and not to abandon their heritage.
“We cannot abandon our own and embrace the alternative because everyone has a way of life and a culture.
“My sincere goodwill message to our dear father, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, RT Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who has performed wonderfully well to uphold our culture.
“Also to our elders, the entire Izzi land, the people, and Ebonyi State at large. This is a very wonderful culture that is worth celebrating as the king of all agricultural product.” He added.