By Cosmas Omegoh
Indigenes of Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State, residing in Lagos gathered recently for the Orsu Cultural Day celebration. The event, the sixth edition, was under the auspices of Orsu Local Government Area Development Union, led by Prince Raymond Okoligwe.
People from the 26 communities in the council, which was created in 1993, staged masquerades and inspiring dances to the admiration of people in the area.
At the event, Orsu people gave honours to their sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in various fields. Those honoured include a serving colonel in the Nigerian Army, naval lieutenant, retired deputy comptroller-general of Immigration abd a senior advocate of Nigeria, among many others. Tagged “Onye Aghala Nwanneya (Be Your Brother’s Keeper),” the people also used the occasion to launch their colourful 2017/2018 calendar.
On the afternoon of the celebrations, no fewer than 5,000 people crammed into the expansive arena inside Abati Barracks Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos. With canopies to accommodate the people spread out everywhere, only a little space was left in the middle where various activities held. Everyone watched scintillating performances by masquerades and male and female dance groups. The chairman of the event was Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje.
Also present were the member representing Orlu/Orsu/Oru East in the House of Representatives, Chief Jerry Alagbaso; Mr. Clinton Ihejiagwa, the Transition Chairman of Orsu LGA, who also stood in for the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, and the member representing Orsu Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Uche Agabige. Various traditional rulers were also in attendance.
Shortly after kolanuts were celebrated, Adirieje recalled that the union was formed shortly after Orsu LGA was created 21 years ago. He thanked everyone who helped to stage the event.
“There is every reason for this gathering; everyone should do their best for the good of Orsu,” he said.
Taking the stage, Alagbaso thanked his constituents for the event, maintaining that it was good that the culture of Orsu was being propagated even in Lagos. He assured the gathering that he had an obligation to support his people and would always stand by them. He said government had awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of Umuhu Okabia-Osumuohu road and expressed hope that those returning for Christmas would enjoy a smooth ride home.
Similarly, Ihejiagwa said his council had approved N20 million for the rehabilitation of roads in the council. He expressed delight at the event, describing it as capable of bringing unity, love and progress to the area. He noted that, going by what he saw, a greater Orsu lay ahead of the people because, bound by unity, there was nothing they could not achieve.
Speeches over, the people, amid music and dance, gave awards to some of their people.
First on the roll was the Excellence Award to nine people, among them Chief Alagbaso and Navy Lt. Obinna Okani. There was the Patrons Award, and one of the beneficiaries was Col. Anthony Obiwuru of the Nigerian Army. Also, there was the Grand Patrons Award to eight people, with legal luminary, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, Ugo Orsu (SAN), Dr. Livingstone Ikebuasi of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and DCG Adike (rtd), among others, as beneficiaries. Various traditional rulers from the area were also honoured.
The awardees filed out in their respective categories to receive their plaques and expressed appreciation for the investiture. Adike said the recognition was a priced one and promised to serve his people whenever he was called upon to do so.
Chairman of the organising committee for the event, Chief Festus Chukwuneke, said the essence of the cultural day was to showcase Orsu culture and promote the talents of the people. He expressed delight that those honoured were true, illustrious indigenes of the area.
The event’s organising secretary, Chief Ignatius Ngodi Anatinyeoku, said the day was a huge success. He called on government to immediately rehabilitate schools and health facilities in the area, especially roads around the council headquarters, Awo-Idemilim just as he lamented the absence of potable water in the area.