New yam Festival: Traditional ruler calls for peaceful co-existence

By Moshood Karim

The Okumagbe of Weppa Wanno Kingdom, Etsako East local government, His Royal Majesty, Dr. George Oshiapi Egabor OON has urged the indigenes of the community home and abroad to remain united, live peacefully and support one another in an effort to develop a viable and vibrant community.

 The monarch made this call at the occasion of the celebration of this year new yam festival and end of the year ceremony at the weekend.

Addressing a group of journalists at the event, the monarch said that the social cultural programme serves as a reunion and call for the celebration of life of the indigenes.

The importance of the event according to him is to foster unity among the people of the community at home and the Diaspora. He added that the kingdom is largely an agrarian community and every year the people pray to God and the ancestors to help for bounty harvest and good health for the people.

The royal father said: “my message to the people at home and in the Diaspora is that they should remain united and live peacefully. This is because, if there is crisis in a community, nothing goes well. No development comes to such community. So, I urged all my subjects to love one another both at home and abroad.”

The traditional ruler, however, hailed the effort of President Muhammadu Buhari in combating the insurgency in the country.

According to him: “I think he has taken the right step in the right direction to ensure that the menace is brought to nothing.” He furthered.

A participant at the occasion, High Chief A. O Eituakhor, the Iyatse of Weppa Wanno Kingdom in an interview with this reporter, advised the people of the community to live their lives in the New Year by correcting the mistake of the past year. He appealed for reconciliation among the age groups in the community.

 The occasion witnessed display of cultural dance from different age groups and eating of the new yam.