BIAFRA ABAKALIKI: OJIJI NEW YAM FESTIVAL, THE PEOPLE OF IZZI DECLARED TOTAL SUPPORT FOR BIAFRA.

The great OJIJI new yam festival of Izzi people in Ebonyi state (Abakaliki province of Biafra) was widely observed throughout Izzi people, within and outside their ancestral home in Ebonyi state on Saturday 25 August, 2018 in a magnanimous manner.

The 2018 OJIJI new yam festival was indeed a unique edition, because the people of Izzi which comprises Abakaliki local government area, Ebonyi local government area and Izzi local government area in Ebonyi state, unanimously declared for Biafra, pledging their total support to the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in their agitation for the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra.

The event to mark the 2018 special edition of OJIJI new yam festival took place at Ikenyi in Izzi LGA Ebonyi state, during the event which was organised by the indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) family in Ebonyi north senatorial district Abakaliki province, the elders of the land, many aged women, children and youths from all corners of Izzi clan happily participated.

Mazi Ezike wisdom the Ebonyi north senatorial district IPOB coordinator and his officials graced the occasion, the Ebonyi state IPOB deputy women leader Mrs Chukwu Jacinta, Mazi Ishioko Jacob the Izzi LGA IPOB coordinator, Mazi Udoka the Ebonyi LGA coordinator and the Abakaliki LGA coordinator Obasi Ifeanyi, including many zonal and unit coordinators in Ebonyi north equally attended the special event at Ikenyi.

Elder Nwebonyi Patrick anchored the traditional rite of the festival as tradition demands. during the observation, he thanked Chukwu-Okike-Abiama for a pumper harvest and prayed for his blessings upon the entire Izzi people, Ebonyi state and Biafrans all over the world.

Elder Uguru Daniel explained the meaning of OJIJI, which according to him means festival of new yam, he explained that it is widely observed throughout Izzi land and it is valued and respected by the people more than the Christmas celebration observed by Christians worldwide during December 25th yearly.

Elder Nwamini Obaji noted that the 2018 OJIJI festival was special, because the people of Izzi in Ebonyi state has unanimously agreed to give their total support to IPOB in their agitation for Biafra restoration. "Izzi people stand with Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, we're ready to do anything to make sure that Biafra is restored, we're tired of the contraption called Nigeria."

Elder Vincent Onicha explained the ordeal of Biafrans starting from 1967-1970, when Nigeria and her foreign allies committed genocide against Biafrans, thereby killing over 3.5 million Biafrans and hide it to the notice of the world with the help of their junk media. He called on the entire people of Izzi and Ebonyians wherever they may be to give their whole support for the freedom and the restoration of Biafra saying that "it is the last hope of a common man as long as the black race is concerned".

While addressing the people, Mazi Wisdom Ezike urged them to love one another and always work with one accord, even in the struggle for Biafra restoration. " Without love and unity we cannot achieve much that is why it is very important for us to love each other and work with one accord" he stated.

Mazi Ishioko Jacob among others who spoke with the media expressed their joy over the giant step taken by the people of Izzi in Ebonyi state (Abakaliki province), to officially and boldly identify with IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Mazi Jacob Ishoko urged them to look for the nearest IPOB family wherever they are to join.

Seven days before the OJIJI new yam festival, steady rainfall is always witnessed in the entire Izzi land and beyond which according to elder Uguru Daniel, " it signifies the blessings from Chukwu-Okike-Abiama on his people" Many who observed the OJIJI new yam festival receives lot of blessings from Chukwu-Okike-Abiama the following year, according to the tradition.

The 2018 festival organised by the indigenous people of Biafra {IPOB}, as usual was marked with eating and drinking as the people were in full merriment and anticipated for another pumper harvest next year and beyond. They were optimistic that the next year OJIJI Izzi new yam festival will be celebrated in Biafra as a sovereign nation.

Written by:

Ogeh Friday Igiri

For: Ebonyi State Media.

(Abakaliki Province)