The deputy speaker of Abia State house of assembly, Rt Hon Austin Okezie Mmeregini has harped the need for communities to maintain peace to enable development to thrive.
Rt Hon Mmeregini flanked by the state commissioner for transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, youth president of Ibeku, Chief Martins among others gave the advice while speaking during the celebration of 2024 Iriji Nkata. He promised to maintain his relationship with them and congratulated them for their successful 2024 Iriji celebration.
While calling for sustenance of peace in the community, the Ata ll of Afarata Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Osquared Felix Onwukwe flanked by other Ibeku Ezes also advised his subjects to celebrate the new yam festival with a fun fair.
Eze Onwukwe described peace as an important factor for development to thrive in every community and therefore urged Afarata people to mark their 2024 new yam festival peacefully.
The chairman of Ntaka Afarata Ibeku, Hon Chief Silas Uchendu Ihemeremadu in his welcome address commended the Abia state government under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti for approving the commencement of Nkata Community Secondary School starting on the 23rd September 2024.
He stated that the government of Abia State has been good to Ndi Nkata, with the help and support of their brothers and sister in government, they received the certificate to own Ntaka community secondary school.
Chief Ihemeremadu said that they are happy and therefore called on their visitors and friends, to help them thank Dr. Alex Chioma Otti and his government for making sure that their children will register and go to school free.
His words “We will not rest until Nkata community secondary school becomes one of the best centers for WAEC students in the nearest future. We have seen that this government is quality oriented and we are ready to do our best to support this government to the last”.
“We are assuring you all that come Iri Ji 2025, you will see the wonder of Nkata Agricultural produce displayed here for all to see”.
“Thank you so much for all your anticipated supports, we will not disappoint you. We are only asking as Oliver Twist for more, we need individual financial help from people like you, so that we can be able to walk this exciting path with our students, teaching them how to make this new college and career dreams come true and helping them create a map so they won’t feel lost”.
He maintained that Nkata community is ready to partner any progressive mind to make Nkata a place to be, we are praying for you for God to continue to uphold and provide for you all in this economic trying period in our nation. Chukwu Okike abiama will not leave you empty as you invest in Ala Nkata. I wish all of us a glorious celebration of 2024 Iri Ji Nkata”.
He continued that “We are here to celebrate bountiful harvest of 2024. “
According to Chief Ihemeremadu, the 2024 Iri Ji message is very direct and simple. Nkata Afarata Ibeku has risen, risen from slumber, risen from age long intimidation, humiliation and marginalization, from all and sundry. A year and half today, I was elected with other fearless sons of Nkata with a simple mandate, Restoration of the dignity of our land..And I make bold to inform you today that we have completed the foundation for that restoration and we are on the lane of dignity and I make bold to say also that we are bringing back the glory of Nkata”.
“Today, we are witnessing a peaceful new yam celebration regardless of the provocation and intimidation from those we had trusted to show us the way. But we have moved on and we are inviting every son and daughter of Nkata to shun the response to the call of temporary solution to hunger and join us to solve the problem of hunger forever. Don’t follow a man who will feed you, but follow a man who will teach you how to feed yourself and feed others too”.
Our correspondent reports that the event featured cultural entertainment from various groups of the community.
