By Chukwudi Nwauba :
Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike has urged the people of Anaocha Community to support Gov. Charles Soludo’s led administration to transform all sectors of the state.
Dr. Obidike assured them that it is in the Governor’s agenda to make Anambra a farm producing state in Nigeria.
The Iri Ji festival (New Yam Festival) is practiced throughout Igbo land, symbolizing the conclusion of a harvest and the beginning of the next work cycle and the celebration is very culturally based occasion that ties individual Igbo communities together as essentially agrarian and dependent on yam, the king of crops.
New yam festival is an annual cultural festival that is held at the end of the rainy season usually around August-September.
The commissioner who graced the new yam festivals at Obeledu, Neni and Akwaeze Communities in Anaocha Local Government Area, expressed his joy that the commitment of Gov. Soludo in eliminating criminals from the state is evident with the crowd and people in the diasporas who returned home in their various communities to mark the new yam festival.
“Our governor is so much interested in Agriculture and I want us to identify with him by embracing farming in our communities.
“We encourage our people not to be discouraged in their efforts to make our beloved state farm produce in Nigeria.”
Dr. Obidike who hails from Akwaeze said that it is indeed a historic event that every year his community celebrates her new yam festival they call (Ifejioku) as a way to thank God for the harvest.
According to him, Akwaeze Traditional Ruler, Igwe Christopher Ezennebo III cut the new yam and ate with the council of elders then with the main celebration held at Akwaeze square where cultural dancing groups entertained the public.
