Igbo Festival of Art and Culture IFAC 2019

MAZI OBI OKOLI ASK NDIGBO TO STAND THEIR GROUND.

It was a great gathering of Ndigbo in United Kingdom as they celebrated their annual Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture for Igbo in Diasporas.

The event witnessed the presence of many traditional rulers among whom was HRH Eze VNC Ibenye Ugbala, HRH Igwe C.O Okeke Udodinma 111 of Amaokpala Town, Igwe Godwin Ogo Ezeilo- Ezekunie Obu Nanka, Igwe Ejiofor of Oye Kingdom, Igwe Ezeogu IV of Okporo kingdom. HIM Eze Charles Onwuneme Okeosisi from Abia State, Chief Alloy Igwe PDP Orlu Zonal Imo State, HRM Igwe C.IC Onwobo -Obataobia na Ojidi, many Mayors, representative of the Nigerian High Commission, representative of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) -Dr L. Ukachi and many community leaders from across Europe.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of Congress of Igbo Leaders (CIL), UK, Mazi Obi Okoli called on the Ndigbo worldwide to stand their grounds and be ready at all times to confront the challenges against her civilization and survival in the 21st century.
In a statement issued by Ms Asa Blessing-Chijekwu, a member of the festival publicity/media team, and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), quoted Mazi Okoli as saying that the Igbo were the “pride” of Nigeria. He urged the Igbo to be ready at all times to defend, challenge and confront any obstacles and ensure the protection of their children and unborn generations. Mazi Obi Okoli said that “As we celebrate our unique culture and tradition today, let us not forget that this places on our respective shoulders the burden of protecting our ancestral land, water, women, children, the elderly and youths.

He said that “In the earliest days of Igbo civilization, our ancestors were concerned with promoting high ethical standards, values, norms that keep our societies together. They believed in the purity of mind, body and soul, the divinity of the gods, the sanctity of our villages, and the purity of our families. He charged Ndigbo never to abandon these unique ways.

Mazi Okoli said that as the Igbo battle the negative forces against her culture, tradition, religion, belief and norms; the Igbo must be careful not to allow our people to lay in waste, dissolution and ambivalence to falsehood believing that Nigeria is nor will ever be one.

“We must do all within our powers to pass on all gifts that make us special to our children and generations unborn. “Ndigbo must begin a careful journey of regression. A journey that must review all we have embraced and imbibed to see if they are necessary, beneficial and relevant to our existence and survival,” Okoli said.

The Head of community relations lord (Chief) Okey Igbokwe in a similar interview said that in life that there are many things the Igbo cannot stop. Things such as earthquakes, droughts prevention, prevention of conflicts, hate, and the attendant sadness that come with our sojourn in Nigeria. “However, he said Ndigbo can prevent enslavement, divisions, rape of her children, women, elderly and how they chose to live or die. He reiterated the fact that the Igbo people are a great nation, a unique people, a blessed and a courageous people. He charged Ndigbo to use the opportunity to strengthen their resolve to survive and develop their nation for the good of her people and the survival of the Black race.