Group Visits Ezinihitte, Assert Role in Iri-Ji 2025

Group Visits Ezinihitte, Assert Role in Iri-Ji 2025

By Sampson Uhuegbu

The cultural heart of Mbaise pulsed with ancestral pride as Ndi Ezeji Mbaise, the revered custodians of yam tradition, paid an official visit to Itu, the Headquarters of Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area, marking the formal kick-off of Iri-Ji Mbaise 2025 preparations.

With heads held high and tradition at their back, the Ezeji declared — once again — their non-negotiable role as the spiritual and cultural anchors of the most iconic National Festival in Southeastern Nigeria. Speaking during a high-level meeting with Chief Chinedum Nwachukwu, Chairman of Ezinihitte LGA (which holds hosting rights for the 2025 festival), they made it clear: no individual or group can rewrite the covenantal ritual that predates colonial Nigeria.

“We are not guests. We are the very soul of Iri-Ji Mbaise. It is our ancestral duty, not political charity,” thundered Ezeji Dr. Kachi Nwoga, Coordinator of Iri-Ji Ceremonies for Ndi Ezeji and the Central Planning Committee Chairman.

Nwoga emphasized that although the festival welcomes every Mbaise son and daughter globally, the burden of its organization has fallen solely on Ndi Ezeji in recent years, a result of efforts to stem the combination of negligence and abuse by others. He urged the LGA Chairman to unite with his counterparts — Chief Iheukwumere Alaribe of Aboh and Chief Larry Chikwe of Ahiazu — to maintain dignity and restore inclusivity to the event, rotating as tradition demands.

He reiterated the sacred foundation of the New Yam Festival: Thanksgiving to the _Yaweh – Ahiajoku_ (God the giver of bountiful harvest), Chukwuokike Abiama before eating the new yam, a custom spiritually binding on all of Mbaise. The Festival involves all of the 94 autonomous communities in Mbaise, and even our ancestral relatives in Ngwa, Ngor Okpala, and parts of Rivers State.

The festival’s stature once attracted the then Culture and Tourism Minister, Edem Duke, who declared it a National Cultural Festival, including creating a dedicated Desk Officer in the Ministry at Abuja. Yet, years later, Mbaise still struggles to get it on the National or State Cultural Budget, with stakeholders decrying persistent marginalization.

The meeting didn’t shy away from airing longstanding tensions, as Ezeji Dr. Bar. Anamelechi Aguwa and others called out Ezuruezu Mbaise for allegedly politicizing and attempting to hijack the festival by establishing a rougish “Planning Committee”, strangely naming the event Mbaise Cultural Day and using Ndi Ezeji’s name — an act they described as fraudulent and sacrilegious.

“Ezuruezu Mbaise cannot stage an event they didn’t inherit. They must return to Eke Nguru — our headquarters — and make peace before they talk festival,” Ezeji Aguwa declared. He also dismissed attempts to rename the sacred August 15 Iri-Ji Mbaise, or stage parallel events, calling such actions “cultural sabotage.”

In his response, Chief Chinedum Nwachukwu, visibly moved by the show of Cultural strength, acknowledged the burden carried by Ndi Ezeji and pledged to uphold the sanctity of the festival during Ezinihitte’s hosting tenure. He promised to immediately confer with his Mbaise LGA counterparts and reconvene with Ndi Ezeji to ensure a successful event, in his time.

His Political aide, Hon. Uzochukwu Njoku, and LGA Secretary, Mr. Chris Ekpe, were also in attendance, taking notes of their expected roles.

The gathering concluded with prayers and plans for broader sensitization of Mbaise sons and daughters worldwide to rally behind this year’s festival — not as mere spectators but as covenant partners in preserving a legacy.

Ndi Ezeji continued their activities of the day with closed-door meetings with Eze, Ezeji Osita Nwokocha, Chairman Ezinihitte Council of Traditional Rulers; from which they arose with joy and satisfaction, at the end of very fruitful deliberations.

The meetings were attended by the hierarchy and top brass of Ndi Ezeji Mbaise including: Ezeji Dandy Obani, Vice President of Ndi Eze ji, Ezeji Rock Emereole, Ezeji Nze Ugwu, Ezeji Benco Nwaiwu, Ezeji Linus Nwachukwu, Financial Secretary, Ezeji Gerald Okonko, Ezeji Titus Nnadozie, Ezeji Nwachinemere, Ezeji Fabian Imo Okoronkwo, Anicetus Chidozie Ogu (PRO), Mr. Chris Ekpe, Secretary of the Ezinihitte Local Government Area, Hon Uzochukwu Njoku, SA Political matters to the Chairman, and the chairman’s Media Aid.