Rivers
Monarch Announces Date For New Yam Festival … Condemns DPO Killing In Ahoada
His Imperial Majesty, Eze Kelvin Ngozi Anugwo, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III of Ekpeye Land has declared 18th, 19th and 24th September as date for 2023 Ekpeye New Yam Festival.
Eze Anugwo made the pronouncement during the festival date fixing ceremony organized by Scepter (Owor) holders of Ubie, Saturday at Odiereke Ubie Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Anugwo enjoined the people of Ekpeye ethnic nation and other residents to embrace the age-long festival, describing it as peaceful period of jubilation from what was harvested from their farms.
He further advised the celebrants to imbibe the tenets of the festival, which abhorred stealing for the purpose of celebrating the festival, fighting, among others.
Earlier, the Chief Priest of the Scepter holders, Mr. Andy Chikobi, Libated, praying for peace, good health, long life and robust celebration of the festival in Ekpeye Kingdom.
He made permutations, resulting in the picking of 18th and 19th September billed for folklore night, and will climax with cleansing ceremony at the wee hours of the 19th, while 24th is fixed for the day of the festival.
The Akalaka XII, who is held at high esteem by women in the community and youths, thanked the hosts for the gesture.
Eze Ekpeye also used the fora to condemn the dastardly clubbing to death of the Ahoada Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Bako Angbashim, by die-hard criminals in the area.
Anugwo, who was deeply touched by the sudden demise of Angbashim, noted that for some time Ekpeye Kingdom did not have peace until the redeployment of the late DPO to Ahoada.
He vowed that “Ekpeye land must unmask those behind the heinous crime”.
Recalling his promise to bring about peace, security and development in Ekpeye Kingdom during his election, the Eze noted that he had extended the olive branch to the hoodlums in the past, but the turned it down.
He stressed that by their action of murdering the DPO, “the battle line has been drawn between them and government”, promising that he would do everything within his powers to assist government in fishing out the culprits.
While sympathizing with the family of the late D.P.O, he advised the people of Ekpeye and other residents not to panic, but go about their lawful businesses, promising that the law would catch up with the criminals in no distant time.
SP Bako Angbashim was mobbed to death by irate youths who laid ambush against him and his team at Odiemudie Community at about 7:30pm last Friday.
By: Agimo Emenike Benson