From Chijioke Agwu, Abakaliki
Akaeze community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State would observe New Yam Festival without the usual fanfare and activities this week.
Daily Sun gathered that stakeholders of the agrarian community met and decided to have a solemn event as a way of expressing their sympathy and solidarity with the former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, facing trial in the United Kingdom on allegation of organ sourcing for his daughter. Ekweremadu is from Mpu in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu state.
A community leader in Akaeze confirmed the development, saying Ekweremadu’s community and Akaeze share the same ancestry.
“Akaeze has strong relationship with Mpu, Igbere and Amasiri. These four towns are believed to have originated from same ancestry. We see ourselves as one people and we relate as such.
“Expectedly, we share in the pain of our brother, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, alongside his family. He has been in detention in London over allegation of organ harvesting for months now.
“When our traditional leaders and stakeholders met over the 2022 New Yam festival, a number of issues were reviewed especially the Ekweremadu ordeal, and it was unanimously agreed that we mark the festival in a low-key. This is one of our ways of showing sympathy and solidarity to them. So, we’ll have solemn event.,” he said.
A traditional ruler in Akaeze clan, Eze Ubani Onu, confirmed that the cultural event would be observed quietly, but was reluctant to give details.
However, Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Agu Justice, said part of the reasons the community chose a low-key event was because of the bloody protest that engulfed the community in January.
It was gathered that during the protest, some members of the community were killed, with property worth millions of naira destroyed including the home and filling station of then chairman of Ivo local government, Onyebuchi Ogbadu.
“The pain and scars of the event are still very fresh in our minds. So, the festival will be a low-key,” Agu said.