By Chibuzo Munonye
Indigenes of Oru Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise L.G.A have been urged to return home and identify with the leadership of the community.
The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Chief Charles Onuoha made the appeal in his speech on the occasion of the 2012 Iriji Eze/Ezuruezu Oru Ahiara 21st edition held at Town School, Oru Ahiara.
Chief Onuoha revealed that it is the desire of the state government to see that peace reign in the community and called on the people to always promote peace.
He expressed the desire of the present administration to see that all communities showcase their culture, maintaining that the Community Government Council was instituted to boost agriculture in rural areas.
The Commissioner noted that his ministry has been mandated to go round the states and change the roofs of schools and buildings, disclosing that later this month every child will be given school materials including sandals, desks, uniform and bags.
He remarked that the Rescue Mission is rendering selfless services like assisting indigent widows as well as establishing skills acquisition centres and called on the people of the state to always support Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Performing the Iwaji ceremony, the traditional ruler of Oru Ahiara, Eze John Oleka maintained that yam is the head of all the crops, stressing that in the olden days our fore fathers used it to marry many wives.
He disclosed that the Iriji ceremony is a one week programme which is preceded by some activities like wrestling and nkwa music till the D day.
In an address, the chairman for committee for Iriji Eze/Ezuruezu Oru Ahiara, Mr Lewis Odom, explained that the festival helps in deepening the cultural and traditional values of the people in order to fight crime and re-orientate declining value systems.
In his brief remark, the Special Adviser to the traditional ruler, Eze Donatus Okechukwu called on all citizens of the community to support Eze Oleka for the progress of the town.
Eze Okechukwu appealed to the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to rescue them from the bad road that stretched from Ngor-Okpala to Ahiazu and from Afor Oru Motor Park to Ama Banax in Ihitte Afor-Ukwu, and expressed the hope that the roads will be rehabilitated during the dry season.
