Nwifuru urges Izhi people to uphold traditional values, respect power-sharing arrangement

Events-Festivals, Politics

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has urged the people of Izhi clan to uphold their traditional values and resist actions that undermine established norms and agreements within the community.

Nwifuru made the call on Saturday at Amagu, the ancestral home of the Izhi people, during the grand finale of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival.

According to a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor, Nwifuru said the people must resist orientations and practices that run counter to what he described as the “grand norms” of Izhi society.

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He identified respect for elders and revered institutions, dignity of labour, hard work, peace, unity and communal living as some of the values that should continue to guide the people.

The Governor also cautioned against the sale of ancestral lands to strangers, including family graves and burial sites belonging to their forebears.

He attributed what he described as the erosion of traditional values partly to misconceptions about religion, urging the people to distinguish between religious practices and cultural traditions.

“Many have confused religion for tradition and have failed to locate the difference between the two. There is sharp demarcation between the two and they do not conflict and clash in their operations,” he said.

Nwifuru added: “Tradition is not human sacrifice, which is what divinity and humanity condemn.”

Nwifuru speaks on 2027 power balance

The Governor also addressed the political situation in Izhi ahead of the 2027 governorship election, urging the people not to undermine what he described as an existing balance of power between the two kindreds in the area.

“In the context of 2027, we have balanced power among the two kindreds in Izhiland for the sake of equity and social justice. No one should fight against this established order,” Nwifuru said.

He described those allegedly working against the arrangement and causing disaffection as “strange elements”, saying such actions were inconsistent with Izhi values.

“Those working against established order, causing disaffections are strange elements as these are not Izhi grandnorms, we must resist them,” he said.

Nwifuru also criticised those using social media to attack his administration ahead of the 2027 elections, saying such criticism should not be used to undermine the achievements of his government.

The Governor said his administration had completed more than 500 kilometres of roads across the state’s 13 local government areas, including roads connecting Ebonyi with neighbouring states and projects involving span bridges.

“We have completed more than 500 kilometres of roads across the 13 LGAs.

“We have done roads connecting other states with span bridges. I am shocked that people are saying we have not done anything for the state within the last three years in office,” he said.

He urged the people to avoid using social media to castigate leaders or deny what he described as the administration’s sincere performance for political reasons.

Izhi cultural values

Earlier, the chairman of the event, Mr Edward Nkwagu, said good morals, sincerity, forthrightness, industry, justice, equity and fairness were among the virtues the ancestors of the Izhi people sought to instil in succeeding generations.

Nkwagu, however, expressed concern that modernity and Western influences were contributing to the erosion of those values.

He also criticised the growing involvement of some young people in what he described as touting under the guise of operating as real estate agents.

The Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival brought together traditional leaders, community members and other stakeholders to celebrate the cultural heritage and values of the Izhi people.