At Iwu festival, Iyase tasks Ogwashi-Uku indigenes on tradition

The Iyase of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Chief Mike Nwaukoni, has charged indigenes of the town to uphold its tradition and cultural heritage.

In his goodwill message to herald this year’s Iwu festival in Azungwu quarters of the town, Nwaukoni said it is one celebration through which Ogwashi-Uku people “give thanks to God for bountiful harvests and life.”

The celebrations started on August 27 with Ufe Iwu (Iwu Vigil) Isime Iwu followed this. The fasting and meditation to Chi-Ukwu Okike (God Almighty) end today, while the celebrations properly begin tomorrow and end on September 2, 2021, with Ihana Otite.

Nwaukoni, who commended the Azungwu people (Ngwu Dike), urged peaceful coexistence among them and expressed delight that the people were celebrating in spite of the challenges and development issues confronting the kingdom.

While stressing the need for truth and justice, he appealed to youths to shun violence, insisting that they should not use violence in the pursuit of solutions to perceived problems.

He enjoined them to remain focused on tackling issues that had challenged their existence, as a people with a common heritage and ancestral background, as well as admonished them to remain united and adopt a positive attitude to life.

The Iyase also enjoined the people to be focused on rebuilding the kingdom for greatness by putting all grievances of the past behind and chart a way forward for the good of all.