…Lauds Gov. Nwifuru for Creating Conducive Environment
By Charles Iteshi,
Abakaliki
The Member representing Ikwo/Ezza-South Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, National Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Comrade) Chinedu Ogah, OON, has hailed the Aji Ereke Festival as a beacon of peace, unity, and development, asserting that cultural heritage remains a vital tool for fostering communal harmony.
Speaking during the 2025 Aji Ereke Cultural Festival held on April 23 at Edukwu Edu in Item Amagu, Ikwo Local Government Area, Ogah congratulated the people of Amagu for preserving their tradition and celebrating it in grand style.
“Today being the 23rd of April, 2025 is the Aji Ereke Annual Cultural Carnival for the people of Amagu Ikwo. There are 23 villages partaking in this celebration and the evidence is the population present here,” Ogah stated.
He attributed the peaceful atmosphere that made the celebration possible to the supportive leadership of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We are celebrating this cultural heritage because of the conducive and enabling environment created by the Governor of Ebonyi State and Mr. President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He commended Governor Nwifuru for consistently identifying with the people and called for greater support for the administration.
“I commend the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for always celebrating with us and sending a representative to this noble celebration every year. I also call on everyone to support the good administration of the governor for more development and progress in the state.”
Ogah emphasized that the festival fosters peace and social reconciliation in the community.
“The carnival has brought us together in unity. It has enabled us to have peace and development. A lot of court cases have been withdrawn, and reconciliation took place in the village by the elders. This is one of the positive influences that our cultural heritage has done for us.”
When asked about the motivation behind supporting the festival, Ogah said his inspiration came from witnessing how past and present administrations leveraged cultural identity to unite the people.
“I have witnessed the past leadership of Dr. Sam Ominyi, Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, and the current governor, Prince Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, and how they used cultural heritage to bring the people together. That is why I am contributing my quota to uphold the heritage of our people.”
The Ebonyi State Governor, represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, congratulated the people of Amagu for preserving their culture. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to development, citing the proposed 5km road project from Abina Amagu, which is already captured in the 2025 budget.
He urged the community to continue supporting the government and collaborate with leaders at the grassroots for better governance.
In goodwill messages, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Matthias Adum; the Principal Secretary to the Governor, represented by the Ebonyi LGA Chairman, Prince Chinedu Uburu; Chief Okeagu Ogada; Chief Sunday Nwankwo, and other traditional rulers praised the cultural event. They described it as a unifying platform that has brought lasting peace and development to Ikwo.
The event drew attendance from key political and traditional figures, including Senator Kenneth Eze (represented by Dr. Philip Eworo), members of the Ebonyi State Executive Council, local government chairmen, APC leaders, ward coordinators, councilors, and well-wishers from within and outside the state.