Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Youths in Onitsha otherwise known as Onitsha Ado Youth Council (OYC), in Anambra State, has said that there was no plan to disrupt this year’s Ofala festival over alleged Agbalanze initiation.
The group said that the youths never threatened to cause mayhem as reported in some social media and newspapers, saying that the Onitsha youths highly respect the culture and custom of the land and cannot do anything that breach the existing peace either in the kingdom or the entire state.
In a statement signed by the Secretary of OYC, Mr. Emeka Omata, it said that its Igwe and Obi of Onitsha, is a revered monarch in the country and who is highly respected due to his charisma and philanthropic gesture and who believed in sustaining the cultural heritage of the kingdom.
The statement read in part: “With respect to the latest newspaper publications and social media viral messages using of Onitsha Ado Youth in criticising the administration of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Ugochukwu Nnaemeka Achebe and Obi-in-Council and planning to boycott or disrupt the upcoming Ofala 2018 festival.
“We, Onitsha Ado Youth Council, hereby withdraw ourselves from such precarious and derogatory message/ publications going round against our monarch”.
“For the records, Onitsha Kingdom has been a monument of excellence which both far and near kingdoms in Anambra State and beyond wish to copy such magnificent heritage.
“However, all the developments and empowerments we have been experiencing around Onitsha Kingdom couldn’t have been achievable if not for the good administration of Igwe and Obi-in-Council.”
“Igwe Achebe (Agbogidi) is so humanitarian that he takes the bull by the horn to see that the future of Onitsha kingdom and her youth is brought to their doorstep. Please, we, Onitsha Ado Youth Council are warning any individual involving the youth of this kingdom (Onitsha) to desist from such miscreant behavior or else he or she will face the wrath of the masses.”
“We, Onitsha Ado Youth Council, hereby state categorically that we value our Igwe and Obi-in-Council and will always support his good administration vehemently in all accord” It stated.