From left, Hon. Chief (Sir) Jude Chukwuemeka Idimogu; Solomon Ogbonna, Mrs Cecilia Dada; Eze Nwachukwu; and others during the Iriji ceremony.
Hon Jude
Idimogu Lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 02 at the Lagos State House
of Assembly & Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Industry and
Cooperative, has extolled the Iri ji ceremony by the Igbo people.
Idimogu
spoke to Journalists during the 2018 Cultural Festival cum Iri Ji which held at
the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Okota, Lagos. The event was hosted by
Eze (Dr.) Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, Eze Ndigbo on Sunday.
The lawmaker
spoke on how the
festival has affected the lives of the Igbos in Lagos, saying the Igbos are
known for their culture and tradition. “The reason for the celebration is to
remember the tradition which our forefathers handed over to us, as we are here
it is also reminding us on the need to sustain the culture for future
generation that iriji is the tradition that should be upheld and cherished as
an Igbo man or woman.”
On unity he
said events such as the iriji has the capacity to unite the Igbos, “As you can
see the Ezes are here. Today Eze Nwachukwu is marking the iri ji, tomorrow it
may be that of another eze, and we all go there, and it brings us together as a
people, it brings harmony, peace and understanding. In Lagos it is difficult to
visit one another due to traffic, but with an event like this, it becomes
easier to see your brothers, sisters, associates, friend and well-wishers. So
it is a nice one as it fosters peace and unity amongst Igbo people,” Idimogu
said.
On his plans
to woo the Igbos to support his political aspiration as the candidate of APC in
the race for Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 02 in the Lagos House of Assembly he
said gathering such as the iriji is an opportunity for him to see his people,
adding that “There is no partisanship at a ceremony like this, but we see
ourselves as Igbo. Whether APC, PDP, APGA we do not talk about party lines, we
talk about Indigbo. However what they do is to look at their sons and daughters
who are in politics and give their support to must qualified.
“For me, it
is an indirect campaign to see my people and appreciate them, and they see me,
those that are angry with me, I explain things to them; it is also a form of
reconciliation.
“It must be
stressed that Igbos love themselves wherever they are. We see ourselves as
people in diaspora, and we gather together for the interest of our people.”
Chairman of
the occasion was Prof. Nnabuihe Chigozie Bright of the Department of
Linguistics, African and Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos.
Highlight of
the event include award of honour to Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode,
the plaque who received by Mrs, Cecilia O. Dada on behalf of the Governor;
there were different dancing group and masquerades from Igboland.
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