THE OBI OF MBIRI CONGRATULATES IKA WEEKLY PUBLISHER, SAYS IKA CARNIVAL I S A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT

IKA CARNIVAL: IKA MONARCHS DRUM SUPPORT FOR OKOH
THE OBI OF MBIRI CONGRATULATES IKA WEEKLY PUBLISHER, SAYS IKA CARNIVAL I S A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT

By Solomon Omojie -mgbejume 

The Monarch of Mbiri kingdom, in Ika Northeast Local Government Area, HRM. Obi Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Alekwe, II (JP) while speaking with journalists on the second edition of Ika Carnival congratulated the Publisher of Ika Weekly Newspaper, Mr. Steve Ekiri-Mekiriuwa Ashien, hammering on the need for all Ika royal fathers, sons and daughters of Ika to be their brother's keeper, HRM Obi Alekwe said Ika weekly has done so much to put Ika nation on the world map so much so that Ika Weekly should be supported to have her own corporate building and not on rent. “Ashien is doing so much every week to put Ika nation on the world map through Ika Weekly Newspaper. His contributions I believe should attract assistance from great sons of Ika nation particularly of Agbor extraction. Agbor is blessed with very wealthy individuals who by now should have made it possible for Ika Weekly to be in their own building and not on rent anymore. I will definitely support any assistance that will be given to Ika Weekly in this regard and I am confident that the Publisher of Ika Weekly will be eternally grateful and gradually the newspaper will be given a national character which has always been my prayer that Ika Weekly graduates to a national newspaper. 

As a people, I believe we will be formidable when we work together just like the Israelite who love themselves and sees an injury to one as an injury to all. So, all Ika people should begin to indoctrinate their children with the ideology of Ika unity and not division; when we are united, we are stronger. And in the area of information dissemination we should continue to promote Ika Weekly. Can you imagine Ika weekly newspaper not being published in a week? What that means is information black out. Ika has many sons and daughters in the Diaspora that should come together to assist Ashien to continue standing in these economically difficult period in the history of the nation. 

Nigeria is a blessed country and for Ika people to move forward, we must all eschew ethnicity and religious divisions which has been the bane of our nation. God only created people, he did not create tribes and until we learn to break ethnic and religious barriers, I am doubtful of where we are heading. We are one people, only love for one another will make us stronger”. Still speaking on Ika Carnival, the revered monarch of Mbiri kingdom said Mr. Sebastine Okoh, is doing his best to unite Ika nation through entertainment. “But are the traditional rulers themselves united? I wish all Ika royal fathers well. When we are united, our young ones can easily come together to fraternize without any inhibitions. Ika royal fathers, sons and daughters of Ika nation should support Mr. Sebastine Okoh as the second edition of Ika Carnival kicks off. We want Ika people to come out and support with a clean heart. As a people we should always extol wisdom above education. It is good to acquire education, but at the crucial point in our lives, we need wisdom. At this crucial period when an Ika son Senator Ifeanyi Okowa is the Governor of Delta State, we need wisdom to make the best of his tenure as one formidable Ika people

“WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF OUR CULTURE” H.R.M Obi Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II (Obi of Owa Kingdom).
As a matter of fact, this Ika carnival is very important and whoever initiated that idea has done a great deed by bringing about cultural liberation for Ika people. We as a people should support such events that highlight and celebrate Ika culture and tradition. We must look inward, unite and carry the banner of our greatness for the whole world to see.
What we have these days in most kingdoms and clans of Ika land is the gradual fading away of our cultural festivals and celebrations. For example, the Igue festivals and New Yam festivals celebrated annually in most communities in Ika land have lost their traditional essence and mystique and have gradually become a take it or leave it affair. I believe that the Ika Carnival affords us as a people the only major point of convergence to salvage our already weakening and fast eroding cultural heritage. We should be proud of our culture and safeguard and showcase it the same way as is obtainable in the Benin Kingdom which to me is the cynosure of African culture and tradition. I once more urge all Ika people to support the Ika Carnival and promote it to become the pinnacle of Ika Cultural extravaganza.

“IKA CARNIVAL IS A PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE OUR CULTURAL IDENTITY H.R.M. - Barr. Ikenchukwu Nkeobikwu Osedume I (Obi of Igbodo Kingdom)

The Ika Carnival is an identity which all Ika people should embrace in order for us to have what makes us stand and speak in one voice as a people. If this carnival creates the platform through which we can discover and showcase our cultural identity, then we should embrace it wholeheartedly. Carnivals are events which showcase and celebrate the way of life of the inhabitants of a particular culture and bring people together.

Whenever we celebrate some of our annual festivals like; Iwaji and Igue, we find people from neighboring communities outside Ikaland coming to observe and partake of the celebrations and see what they look like, especially the colour, aura, pomp and pageantry. It (Ika Carnival) affords us the opportunity to showcase our uniqueness as Ika people. We should promote this carnival and groom it to become a world renowned event such as the Calabar Carnival, as it has the capacity of projecting the Ika ethnic nationality in a positive light to the entire world. It is a most welcome idea and I hope and pray that we as a people will embrace it and see where it would take us to.

IKA CARNIVAL: OBI OF AKUMAZI SAYS IT WILL BE WELL WITH SEBASTINE OKOH
It was all prayers for the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Government on Events and Entertainment, Mr. Sebastine Okoh at the Akuimazi Palace by the longest reigning monarch in the world, HRM Obi Stephen C. Osagie III (Jp0 of Akumazi Kingdom. The Obi while speaking said the whole of Akumazi people are behind Mr. Sebastine Okoh in his project at unifying Ika people through cultural entertainment. “Here in Akumazi we are a peaceful people and we want more development. Akumazi people will do everything possible to make sure Sebastine Okoh succeeds in this second edition of Ika Carnival. 

Also speaking at the palace, High Chief Eric Ekabudike, told reporters that Akumazi Day holds on the 26th and 27th December 2016. According to him, “Akumazi Day is about the culture of Akumazi and Ika in general. “There are some of our children who are not familiar with Ika culture. We are inviting all to come and experience the richness of Akumazi culture. We are also using this medium to appreciate Mr. Dan Usifoh for the wonderful job he is doing at Onu Ika to bring all Ika people together

-----------------------------------------------

OBI - OWA - ISELOGBBE (IGUE FESTIVAL)
By Solomon Omojie -mgbejume‎

Its getting to the time that owa people and His Royal Majesty Agbogidi ,Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor ,will be celebrating the Igue and Ibiewere Festival .Which signifies the end and beginning of a new year for owa people ,its a time to thank God- Oselobue and our Ancestors for giving us a great kingdom called Owa and we also use the festivities to exchange gifts ,ask for protection, and progress for the kingdom.
Igue is an avenue to display the cultural heritage of owa people ,the Odin masquerade will come out and ubi- evil forces will be chased from the kingdom .
There will be music and dance ,while chiefs will be well dressed and dance to the palace of the Obi ,while chanting iyare iyare iyare and Adolations for the obi like
Ojenebo iyare
Agbogidi iyare
Agwo ekirika iyare.
Obi nitor ,iseh.
In this the Obi is the chief celebrant ,and as Ewere lives are given to the obi,he will in return give the native chalk as a sign of blessing ,iyare iyare iyare
(