By Okechukwu Onuegbu
As Christmas and New Year festivities draw closer, the Traditional Ruler of Achina community in Aguata Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State, Igwe Nnaemeka Godwin Obiora, on Friday, declared mass return for their indigenous populace with a view to celebrate their cultural heritage.
Igwe Obiora, who disclosed this at unveiling of Achina 2024 Ofala festival held at the palace, said the community would on December 30 bestow chieftaincy titles on 16 personalities from all walks of lives across the country at the 4th Ofala festival cum 14 years anniversary of his throne.
Igwe Obiọra, who spoke through the Ofala organising committee, Sir Gabby Nwa Dimude, averred that the festival would commence with 21 gun salutes, including mass (church service) to be officiated by Cardinal Peter Okpalaeke, the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulọbịa Diocese.
According to him, the event would begin on December 29 with lectures, talent shows, cultural displays and others before it would climax into chieftaincy titles presentation aimed at celebrating credible personalities across the country, on 30th, 2024.
"This is very unique and the first in Nigeria because our traditional ruler will be bestowing this chieftaincy titles on worthy individuals with good characters and manners. They are not paying a dime to receive the titles because they were chosen on merits. Achina respect and honour individuals who have impacted the society positively," he maintained.
He added that Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo was among the guests expected at the Ofala festival which would also feature youth and women empowerment, aside other activities.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Publicity Committee of Achina, Chief Pat Okpala, said they were excited for the 2024 Ofala event because the community was governed by credible, development oriented and peace loving people, who were courageous, patriots and sacrifices.
"Achina as a community had her last Ofala six years ago, precisely in 2018. You have been invited to this uncommon gathering because we want you to help us tell the world how happy we are to celebrate the 14th year anniversary of the enthronement of HRH Igwe Godwin Obiora as the Ezeidegwu III of Achina and his 4th Ofala festival.
"In the Ofala event of this year, we are not only celebrating our God-given royal father, we are also celebrating the dividends of having stable leadership in both the town union government and the royal institution. We are celebrating our return to be counted in the comity of communities in LGA within the network of roads undertaking by the government of Professor Soludo to uplift the town.
" We are celebrating our political resurrection with one of us Hon. Anayo Okpaleke being the only Achina man to represent Aguata I in over fifty years of political inactivity. We are celebrating the establishment of the only Catholic University in Anambra State, Peter University in Achina. We are celebrating the Chairman Civil Service Commission who is from Achina.
"We want to tell the world that we are back to take our rightful place in Aguata LGA and beyond. The dark days are over and Achina has come back in full force to take back its position in all things. It is not a birthright but it is the will of God. Remember Achina is the first, alphabetically, among the towns in Anambra State not even in Aguata," he stated.
Contributing, the Secretary Achina Ofala organising committee, Ichie Jude Nwanafio, and a member of the committee, Chief Okey Okpalaugo, said the festival would record mass turnout of people as their indigenes living within and outside Nigeria were expected to return home with friends, well wishers and invited guests from all over the world.
On their parts, some cabinet members of Achina Igwe in Council, Ichie Ifeanyi Okpala and Ichie Chike Offoma assured guests of security of lives and property before, during and after the events, adding that Achina in its peaceful and accommodating spirit would provide enabling environment for the public to learn from their history and cultural heritage.