Joy and excitement pervaded the air last week Saturday when the people of Agbor-Alidinma joined their revered monarch, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom to mark the New Yam Festival.
The festival as observed in the community was held amidst funfair and adorned with cultural display by indigenes of the community.
Ika Weekly reporters gathered that the community holds the yam in high esteem, hence, the reverence it accords the crop. It was therefore a moment of joy when the indigenes of the community at home and in Diaspora as well as guests gathered to mark yet another celebration of the New Yam.
According to the National President of Agbor-Alidinma Union, Mr. Charles Onwuegbuzie, this year’s New Yam Festival was to be celebrated with many attractions like the raffle draws as earlier disclosed by the Secretary of the Union, could not be featured in the event due to some certain reasons beyond their control. However, the event was mind blowing and lasted till night fall.
It had in attendance, Mr. Mike Okunonke, an Ika born business guru based in Kaduna, as the Chairman of the occasion, Barr. Felix Morka, an international lawyer, human right activist and leader of the All Progressives Congress in Ika Federal Constituency. Also at the event was Mr. McDonald Eluma, representative of the Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Delta State, Barr. Chiedu Ebie and a list of others.
Earlier in his address, the community union National President, Mr. Charles Onwuegbuzie thanked God for giving them the privilege and fair weather to celebrate the occasion. He described this year’s harvest as bumper harvest, adding that God has blessed the land with the crops for them to feed and feed the nation. He congratulated all indigenes of Agbor-Alidinma and appreciated guests for deeming it fit to celebrate the festival with the community.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Onwugbuzie called on sons and daughters of Agbor-Alidinma in the Diaspora to always think of home with the ultimate goals of making impact to encourage sustainable development.
The national Chairman’s speech was corroborated by the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Okunonke who expressed happiness to be part of the festival. He thanked the community for finding him fit to act in the capacity of the Chairman of the occasion, thereby affirming himself as a worthy son of the community while even being an indigene of the sister local government, Ika North East. He prayed God to continue to bless the land with bumper harvest.
On his part, Barrister Felix Morka noted that Agbor-Alidinma has the best yam across Nigeria, the reason being that it is suitable to serve in all form of delicacy.
He pointed out that the significance of yam cannot be overemphasized, saying that it could be used to grow the economy of the nation.
The representative of the Commissioner, Mr. McDonald Eluma, in his remark congratulated the community and the entire Agbor kingdom for yet another successful bountiful harvest of the new yam. He described the day as an epic day for the community, explaining that the annual festival also provides an opportunity for the sons and daughters at home and in Diaspora to meet in happiness after one year of being out of the community.
“The festival also marks a sign of peace and happiness for our people that are far and near irrespective of their political affiliations coming together to celebrate this day.” Mr. Eluma added.
The festival also enabled the community to hold their conference, where they discussed their welfare and also outlined projects geared towards developing the community.
AGBOR ALIDINMA MARKS NEW YAM FESTIVAL AMIDST FUNFAIR
