Issele-Mkpitime Set To Celebrate Ine-Aho

All is set for the Ine-Aho, an annual cultural and traditional festival of the people of Issele-Mkpitime, in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. 

The community is wearing a new look with giant box banners mounted at strategic locations, announcing the festival, and sons and daughters of the community have come in from their various bases to participate in the festival.

The Issele-Mkpitime Royal Palace, venue of the main event, has also received a new paint coating on the buildings, with the road leading to the entrance rehabilitated 

Speaking with journalists in his palace, the traditional ruler of Issele-Mkpitime, His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Sunday Ogboli, expressed profound joy in anticipation of the festival.

“The truth is that this Ine-Aho is my first since my ascension to this throne a year ago. I am excited about it, and from the response of my people, my joy is full. 

“Ine-Aho signifies the celebration of the peaceful and successful ending of the old traditional calendar and the beginning of a new one. It is our way of appreciating God Almighty for sustaining me on the throne and my people all through last year, as well as for His benevolence in bringing us into a “new year”, the traditional ruler explained.

Obi Ogboli confirmed that the festival would be a non-violent one, saying that it was all about celebration and showing gratitude, even as he extended the Royal Invitation to sons, daughters, and the general public to join him in celebrating his first Ine-Aho on the throne.

Also speaking, Chief Lawrence Njiokwu, the Iyase of Issele-Mkpitime, said everything had been put in place for a successful and peaceful Ine-Aho, revealing that the festival had a procedure and that they had been following the process leading to the main festival scheduled for Saturday, October 4.

Chief Njiokwu said in line with the tradition of the people, the Obi had led the people of Issele-Mkpitime into a period of sanctification that would last for five days before the Ine-Aho.

“It started on Wednesday, the 29th of September, and will end in the morning of Saturday, the 4th of October. The end of the period of sanctification signifies the commencement of the Ine-Aho. The festival is always a period of immense joy and celebration for all in our community”, the Iyase, who is the traditional Prime Minister and Head of all High Chiefs, said.

Explaining the procedure for the event, the Isama Issei and the Onu-Obi of Issele-Mkpitime, Hon. Chief Krees Njiokwuemeni, added that the festival was also about showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the people of Issele-Mkpitime. 

He revealed that on the morning of Saturday, the Obi will lead his High Chiefs, particularly the Iyase, under the guidance of the High Priest of the Community, to Abunor to offer prayers followed by gunshots announcing the end of the period of sanctification and the commencement of the festival.

According to Hon. Chief Krees Njiokwuemeni, who is the Chairman of the Annual Festival Committee, the second segment of the festival would start by 12 noon, when sons and daughters, as well as guests, were all expected to be at the Palace. 

The Chiefs of the Kingdom, with their family members, would dance from their quarters to the Palace to pay allegiance to the King through traditional and cultural displays, with the King seated in his full complement on the throne.

Chief Krees Njiokwuemeni, who is also a former Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, said the High Chiefs would first perform their traditional allegiance, thereafter, the Obi would recess for about 30 minutes, and when back on his Royal stool, the administrative (“Idime”) Chiefs would pay their homage, with the Ozoma leading.

Njiokwuemeni affirmed that all measures had been put in place to ensure a glorious, seamless, and violence-free festival, saying that the event was an opportunity to bring members of the community, home and abroad, in unity towards moving Issele-Mkpitime to another level of peace and prosperity.