Eze Njoku commends 2023 Ofala festival, says coming year offers opportunity for improvement

…Extends olive branch to those in any form offended, embarrassed 

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Eze, (Amb) Nicholas Emenike Njoku, Eze Ndigbo community in Aigbaka Ejigbo, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State has commended his community, guests, and members of the planning committee of the 2023 Ofala and New yam festival of the community held at the Ronic Secondary School Aiyelegun Ejigbo for a successful and rancour free event.

Eze Njoku stated that some steps and actions may have not gone well with some persons, he assured that the coming year’s Ofala offers a great opportunity to make amends.

Exe Njoku, 2nd from left with other dignitaries during the Ofala festival

The revered Eze who is also a United Nations Ambassador of Peace also used the opportunity to denounce rumour making the rounds masterminded by persons who claimed some uniformed security men at his recent Ofala and new yam festival caused them psychological torture and embarrassment by alleged sporadic gun shoots on the air at the event.

They alleged the traditional ruler was responsible for the said embarrassment they claimed to have received.

Eze Njoku however stated that as a leader, he is vested with the responsibility of uniting people and not causing mayhem, saying he is in good standing with the public, journalists and any other person or persons who may have felt aggrieved on the said day.

Traditional display during the new yam festival

According to him, there were reports that some policemen shot into the air to disperse miscreants who were trying to make their ways into the venue to cause confusion and embarrass dignitaries at the venue, saying as a celebrant, he couldn’t have personally known things that  happened outside were he was.

Ambassador Njoku stated that he is a friend to the people in his community and the larger society even as he maintained that journalists are his friends and could not have allowed them to be assaulted or insulted by anyone.

Stating that as a UN Peace ambassador, he could not allow unruly attitude. Said he will stop at nothing to calm down every temper and try to put records straight.

He therefore apologized for any unruly or fractious act by any of the security men at the event.

He quipped that it was not in his habit to look down on people especially journalists.

Eze Njoku said, “During my Ofala on the 31st of September, 2023, some persons particularly some aggrieved journalists alleged that some police orderlies that attended the event were shooting sporadically, a situation they said created fear and tension at the venue of the event.

“As a matter of fact, am a lover of peace and in good stead with all my people, host community, above all, in good and perfect relationship with men of the fourth estate of the realm.

“It was somehow difficult for me to decipher what really went on that day while the event lasted, that has informed my decision to invite you our friends- journalists to interface, share views and experience with you on some issues in the public, and put them straight and project for the future.

“The igbo community in Ejigbo specifically Aigbaka which am their Eze, celebrated their new yam festival on the 31st of September and the event was massively attended.

“After the event, I started hearing certain reports on social media that some persons were insulted by some policemen they claimed shot sporadically in the air.

“Undoubtedly, I have two police orderly attached to me who are well trained, who know what to do at any given time, who know that I have zero tolerance for rascality, insult and violation of human right.

“It was really a fact that the crowd was much and the noise was much, and most of the dignitaries that were in attendance also came with their escorts.

Women on display during the Ofala/new yam festival

“After the event, I started hearing reports that there was much shooting by uniformed men within and outside the venue of the event. I may not dispute that because there was so much noise.

“However, I am not a policeman. I learnt some policemen shot on the air to discourage and disperse uprisings.

“I noticed that there was a time some miscreants wanted to force their way into the venue which the officers tried to manage professionally according to report I got.

“I was at a certain point informed that the security men at the gate were preventing people from coming in, I sent for one of them, inquired why they were doing such.

“They said the people they stopped were miscreants. I told them it’s a party, everyone was invited anyway.

“I encouraged them to accommodate all, expressing optimism that policemen invited would bring peace and orderliness also.

“I do not know the real reason for shooting on the air. I have asked the policemen attached to me, they said they never did that.

“I do not know the exact police personal that did such shooting because there were so many police officers, soldiers and even OPC all at the event from different divisions and commands.

“The only aspect that worries me the most was the report that someone called my attention and I ignored the person.

Such is impossible. How would I say such that could cause break down of law and order in an occasion that cost me and my community so much money to organize.

We can’t turn back to destroy what took us many months of sleepless nights to plan.

“I am an advocate of peace and love. I love people around me being happy.

“The day I was supposed to see people merry and rejoice with me and someone would hint to me or confined in me of imminent danger and I dared such, that is not who I am.

“I don’t know who is the person or persons that came to me as they claimed.

“Mind you, am a UN Peace ambassador. I cannot allow such to happen. Based on my status, I have to make every efforts to put records straight and to appease to anyone who felt offended by any act by anyone in my name on the said day, am so sorry. I do not take delight in making people unease.

“I can’t fight journalists because I need them greatly in the feature.I am just at the genesis of my journey, dream and vision for mankind.

“I cannot fight them, disobey them or fail to listen to their wise counsels much more when anyone raised concern on issue of such magnitude.

“I repeat it once more, my policemen never insulted anyone. I have urged them to reach out to their other colleagues to identify who may have insulted the people that day as alleged so that we could render an apology on the person’s behalf even as they stated that policemen at the event were from different zones and commands.

“My position is that whatever happened that may have brought pains or ill-feeling to anyone on the Ofala day was never authorized by me, I however apologise to anyone affected by such action or inaction.

“ I am happy there was no casualty of any sort that day going by the massive turn out, to God be the glory.

“Am here to bring peace, among my Igbo people, our host and Nigeria at large. It will not be fair I allow minor issues or ill feelings to derail us.
We are on a rescue mission to unite our people.

“I must be grateful to God and to those who may have written any form of report on what they perceived happened that day, they are my friends, not enemies. They are chiseling my future steps to perfect order.

“Indeed, they have prepared us, they have forewarned us, we are grateful,” Eze Njoku concluded.