Obi of Onitsha marks 16th Ofala festival today - By Nwabueze

ONITSHA— Activities marking this year’s annual Ofala cultural festival of the Obi of
Onitsha, His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka
Achebe (Agbogidi) kick off today in grand
style at the revered Ime Obi Palace, Onitsha,
Anambra State.

The ceremony is expected to attract
dignitaries from far and near, including
Onitsha indigenes and non-indigenes resident
at home and in the diaspora.

A visit to the Obi’s Palace, yesterday,
showed that paintings, decorations and
renovations had been completed, thus
showing the crystal nature of the ancient Obi
of Onitsha palace. Although the Palace secretary, Olisa
Agusiobo, was not around when newsmen
visited, chairman of the publicity sub-
committee, Prof. Ngozi Okafor, the Ogene
Onira of Onitsha, confirmed that all is now set
for the big event and that expectations are high, adding that the palace would bubble
with personalities today, being the main
Ofala day and tomorrow, the Azu-Ofala day. Okafor also confirmed that adequate security
measures have been put in place to forestall
any possible break down of law and order
throughout the event. As usual, it is expected that politicians from
various political parties and their
governorship candidates would like to attend
the occasion and use it as an opportunity to
market themselves and canvass for votes
ahead of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State. Ofala festival in Onitsha dates back to 1500
AD when the first Obi of Onitsha and founder
of ‘Onicha Ado N’idu’, Obi Ezechima
reigned. Free eye treatment Meantime, as part of activities marking the
16th Ofala Festival, no fewer that 520
residents of Onitsha, yesterday, received
free eye treatment and services conducted at
the Ime Obi Palace. The programme which is sponsored by
Maldor Gift of Sight, Abuja was co-sponsored
by Ora Egbunike Associates Estate
Surveyors, Valuers, Facilities Managers and
Property Investment Consultants, Lagos Speaking with Vanguard during the medical
outreach, Founder of Maldor Gift of Sight, Dr
Doris Onyeador, said the company was a
purpose-driven eye care centre that
dedicates 10 percent of its proceed to free
eye care, examination, medication, glasses and vision aids to people in the rural
communities. Dr Onyeador said the medical outreach to
Onitsha and its connection with Igwe Achebe
Ofala Festival was at the instance of
Nwakibie Ora Egbunike, who ran into one of
their programmes and decided to bring it to
his people to support the 16th Ofala Festival of Igwe Achebe