From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The rich culture of the Igbo was on full display last week as they gathered at Old Parade Ground, Abuja, to celebrate the 2022 Igbo cultural day. The occasion provided opportunity for reunions and establishment of new relationships.
It was also an opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness and positive contributions of Igbo communities and its people to the socio-economic development of Nigeria, with special recognition of some persons who have championed the course of human and community development within and outside Abuja.
There was a display of dance and other unique identities of the Igbo. And the crowd went in reveries.
Chairman of the occasion, Chief Achike Udenwa, in his remarks, appreciated the display of the rich culture of the Igbo and appreciated the FCT chapter of the Ohaneze Ndigbo for such effort to celebrate the rich culture of the people.
Udenwa, former governor of Imo State, challenged the people to continue to be symbol of peace and unity in their different locations within and outside Abuja, and also mobilize their people to participate in the forthcoming general election.
President, FCT Chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Onwu Arua, in his remarks, said the theme of this year’s Igbo Day celebration, ‘ka udo chia n’ala Igbo’ (let peace reign in Igbo land), was chosen due to rising security concerns in the south east.
He said: “We require peace in Igbo land and other parts of Nigeria and even beyond. But charity begins at home. If we do not have a settled ancestral homestead, it will be impracticable to dwell in comfort in the communities we sojourn to. Violent bloodshed and destruction of properties, which were taboos (nso ani) in the time past in Igbo land have become very heart chocking daily occurrences. The consequence is the unquantifiable economic losses being recorded in the region. We ask and pray for a return to our cherished land of peace and brotherly love.”
He reminded the people that politics time has come again, hence it is not expected that everybody should participate and win at the same time but whoever throws his heart into the ring of politics must play by the rules of decency, fairness and without bitterness. “We should make informed choices, not by coercion or blackmailing others,” he said.
He drew the attention of the participants to a timeless paper delivered by Dr. Eddie Iroh on the occasion of FCT Igbo day celebration on September 29, 2010 titled, ‘Nigeria at 50: Ndigbo in Nigerian Politics’, where he disclosed that the erudite scholar observed that on the basis of comparative advantage, Igbo people should take advantage of available opportunities through technological innovations and make Igboland the Japan of Africa.
He suggested that Ndigbo should take the opportunity of the precarious situation in Nigeria to create a new power base, a truly incontestable open space in which to build a new enterprise that would engage their celebrated skills and ability for hard work.
He added: “Above all, it would be an area free from ethnic rivalry and rancour. I have in mind the fallow land of science and technology, of manufacturing and fabrication, doing the things that have we always done well, even in the dire circumstances of the unfortunate war.”
Other Igbo leaders who spoke at the event pointed to the signs that Igbo language is fast going into extinction due to the fact that many parents are embracing westernization which promotes foreign languages and culture, thus relegating the Igbo language.
She encouraged parents to always speak Igbo language to their children and always use it to communicate with them at home, schools, market, churches and other public places, and not being ashame of speaking the language.
“We should protect the heritage and culture that was passed to us by our forefathers, and we can only achieve that by impacting the knowledge on our children whom unarguably, would take after us and continue from where we stopped. Anything other than that would be disastrous and doom for our culture and heritage,” they said.