Monarch Extols Roles Of Wrestling Festival In Ekpeye Kingdom

The Eze Igbu Upata III of Upata Kingdom Ahoada East Local Government Area HRM Eze Felix Otuwarikpo said wrestling remains the most unifying factor among the Upata and Ekpeye people.
Eze Otuwarikpo said this while declaring opened the Upata wrestling festival at the ancient Ula Upata play ground.
He said the age long ceremony has been a unifying factor among his people.
According to the monarch the ancient wrestling festival which was preserved by their fore fathers is source of unity, peace and togetherness in Ekpeye kingdom.
He said the number of dignitaries at the event shows the relative peace in the area.
“The attraction of many Ekpeye traditional rulers to the event has vindicated my earlier position that there is no crisis in Ekpeye.
“We are brothers and in unity we move Ekpeye forward. We are looking for our people being united, thinking as one people.
“Whatever that have set us apart, as a people today have been laid to rest,” he said.
Also speaking Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim urged the people to be peaceful.
The commissioner who was represented by the Director Information Communications and Technology (ICT), Mr. Kenneth Okujagu, urged them to continue to support the state government to move the state forward.