·Describes Osun election as benchmark for 2027 election
.Glo’s assist has reworked Ofala into world famend cultural pageant
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Traditional Ruler of Onitsha Kingdom, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has stated it could be delusional for Nigerians to put their hope and belief solely on authorities, insisting that the individuals should try to assist themselves too.
Achebe, who said this throughout this 12 months’s conventional Ofala Festival, which held yesterday on the Eze Chima Square in Onitsha, additionally recommended Globacom for serving to remodel Ofala right into a world-renowned cultural pageant.
The monarch stated his admonition is taken from the successive themes of the occasion in earlier years, together with that of 2026, which is: ‘Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru’, translated into English meant; try and advance.
He insisted that for years issues have failed to alter, insisting there was want for individuals to do what they might to advance their very own course legally.
He stated, “In 2023 we had the theme: ‘Better. Together. Stronger’. It was a name for consolidation on our breakthroughs whereas galvanising for future challenges. In 2024, ‘Courage. Perseverance. Self-reliance: Onye kwe, Chi’e ekwe’ was a mirrored image on the prevailing hardship, and empathy and encouragement to our individuals to outlive the hardship, by means of their attitudes, dedication, and actions. Last 12 months was ‘Njikoka na Ntachi: Community Resilience’.
“The last 10 years have been very challenging for our country. Thus, it would be delusional for us to place our hope and reliance entirely on the government. Accordingly, these reinforcing themes call on Ndi Onicha to summon those enduring attributes that sustained our ancestors at the moment of difficulties in order to survive prevailing hardship while upholding our dignity as a people. We have no option than to strive and advance.”
The monarch additionally stated the Osun governorship election must be a benchmark for the 2027 basic elections, whereas calling on Igbo individuals to take part en masse within the forthcoming elections.
He stated, “The nationwide elections are barely three months away. Expectedly, the eye of the political class has more and more turned to political positioning, and away from governance.
“Democratic elections are alternatives for the citizens to pick out the candidates that might ship the perfect governance. It is, due to this fact, crucial for non-partisan stakeholder teams, together with the standard and spiritual establishments, city unions, and the civil society organisations, to accentuate their advocacy, mobilisation and enlightenment without cost and honest elections.
“Also, the political events should abhor violence and interact in wholesome, issues-based campaigns to allow the citizens make the precise selections.
“Except for the studies of violence and intimidation, the current off-cycle governorship election in Osun State demonstrated strong marketing campaign, large turnout by voters, and an inexpensive efficiency by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC). The election has develop into a marker for the approaching nationwide elections and all eyes are on INEC to ship free and honest outcomes.
“I call on the people of the South-east states to shake off their historical apathy towards elections. We cannot stay away from elections and turn around to complain of marginalisation. In Democracy, all votes count. Therefore, we must come out and vote for our candidates.”
Speaking on the 2026 version of the occasion at Ime Obi, Onitsha, the monarch paid particular tribute to the know-how firm for being a principal sponsor of Ofala for the previous 15 years.
“Their partnership has transformed the festival from a palace ritual to a world-renowned cultural festival owes a great deal to purposeful partnership. Since 2011, Globacom has stood with us as our principal partner – now fifteen consecutive years of unwavering commitment,” Agbogidi stated, including that “In good times and challenging times, Globacom has helped us preserve the authenticity of Ofala while enhancing its presentation, documentation, broadcast and global reach. They have helped take a living heritage to the global stage.”
He additionally applauded the imaginative and prescient of the Chairman of Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., for his dedication to the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
“I thank Globacom and its Chairman, Otunba (Dr.) Mike Adenuga, Jr., GCON, a true man of culture, for his vision and belief that culture is not a luxury but a foundation for unity,” Achebe said.
He famous that the theme of this 12 months’s version, “Igba Mbo, Iga N’Iru” – Strive and Advance – is “a call to industry, to excellence, to self-improvement and to collective progress. It reflects the spirit of our forebears who built a kingdom on the Niger, and it speaks to our youth who must carry that heritage forward with enterprise and purpose”.
In his goodwill message to the Igwe and Onitsha Kingdom, Dr. Adenuga stated, “our association with the Ofala Festival since 2011 has been much more than a corporate partnership. It has been a relationship which we cherish deeply and regard as a privilege.”
He expressed his gratitude to the Igwe for the chance given Globacom to contribute to the preservation, celebration and wider projection of the priceless cultural heritage. “It gives us great satisfaction to join Your Majesty and the people of Onitsha each year in showcasing to Nigeria, Africa and the wider world the beauty, dignity and enduring values represented by Ofala,” Adenuga concluded.
