TRADITIONAL RULER OF AFARATA IBEKU CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN AGRICULTURE

TRADITIONAL RULER OF AFARATA IBEKU CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN AGRICULTURE

David Maduako –Umuahia

The traditional ruler of Afarata Ibeku autonomous community in Umuahia North LGA of Abia state , His Royal Majesty Eze Felix Osquared Onwukwe have called on government’ at all levels to invest in agriculture especially in the South East region of the country for adequate food sufficiency .

The Eze said government’ Intervention have become necessary following the noticeable decline of agricultural practice in some regions of the country, he explained that before now , his father use to be a great farmer with several large expanse of land but today due to some obvious factors , there are few of such farmers .

He therefore called on the Federal Government to support Agriculture in the South East region as it does in the Northern part of Nigeria

Eze Onwukwe who was speaking to the press during the celebration of the New yam Festival of Afarata Ibeku autonomous community which took place recently expressed joy that the community celebrated the festival in peace , pomp and Pegeantry without any casualty .

According to him new yam festival is a time of joy and peace as such it requires no violence or government’ presence to avoid unnecessary involvement in the culture of the people . He condemned the use of weapons such as cutlasses during the celebration The Eze called on the youths of Afarata and other autonomous communities in Ibeku land to stop the use of cutlasses during the celebration of the new yam festival .

Chief Roland Ugochukwu Ndubuka The Traditional Prime Minister of Afarata Ibeku kingdom

Contributing , the Prime minister of the community Barrister Roland Ugochukwu Ndubuka , commended his traditional ruler Eze Osquared Onwukwe for a peaceful celebration calling on other communities in Ibeku land to emulate Afarata in carrying out their celebration, stating that originally the people of Ibeku land brandish cutlass to show case that cutlass is an important implement needed in the cultivation of yam . He stated that it is not meant to harm any body .

He maintained that it is strangers residing with the people of Ibeku that are responsible for the crisis experienced during new yam festivities he requested that instead of the danger posed by the use of weapons to continue , the traditional rulers of Ibeku land should stop the use of cutlasses during the celebration of their new yam festival .
End