ISSELE-UKU INE FESTIVAL TURNS CARNIVAL AS OBI NDUKA EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH KINGDOM'S ADHERENCE TO CULTURAL HERITAGE

Issele-Uku Kingdom, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, was a beehive of activities on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September, 2025, as the people proudly showcased their rich cultural heritage for the two-day Ine Festival, to the admiration of guests and visitors.

The Ine Festival, christened Ine Onyimi (Festival of Joy) is one aspect of the Ine Aho Festival, marking the seasonal celebration of the popular new yam festival (Iwaji).

This year's edition was a carnival of sort - indeed Issele-Uku was heavily agog with various cultural activities that became the rave of the moment and a delight for international culture and tourism enthusiasts.

Speaking to the Press in the middle of the celebration, the amiable king of Issele-Uku, HRM Agbogidi Obi Nduka JP (MNSE) took time to narrate the cultural essence of Ine Aho Festival as well as X-rayed some contemporary issues for the purpose of profferring basic traditional solutions.

"Ine Aho Festival is our essence - the personality of who we are; therefore, our culture is deeply embedded in our Ine Aho festival. I make bold to say that I am not only proud of our culture and traditions, but also proud of the consistency of my people in adhering strictly to this cultural heritage. It's amazing and I give God all the glory for how He has empowered us into great productivity in the cause of the season.

"It must be noted that our cherished unity as a people and our hospitable disposition to strangers have distinguished us by Governmental ratings in terms of the peace and harmony we have helped Government and other interest groups achieved. We are always law-abiding and we have had no reason to trouble any government of the day.

"We are perfectly in good and cordial working relationship with the Governments. However, it is our firm belief that Government must also always, reciprocate this gesture by the dividends that they bring to us in terms of physical projects and other social amenities, for the developmental benefit of our community and people", Obi Nduka posited while addressing newsmen.

Meanwhile, the second day of the Ine Festival had witnessed another monumental exhibition of cultural glamours and colours.

In the wisdom of the king and those saddled with the responsibility of organizing the 2025 Ine Aho Festival, the second leg of the Ine Festival on Sunday 7th September was made strictly a competition of interest between the various villages in Issele-Uku town.

Out of the nine villages, six of them participated, which are Ogbeowele, Ogbeofu, Idumuinei, Ukpai, Idumu-Ahaba, and Umueze-Issei, while the exceptions were Ogboli, Ute and Ogbeutu villages.

The competition however, produced Umueze-Issei as overall winners of the competition with a prize money of #150,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only), while the first and the second runners up - Idumuinei and Idumu-Ahaba received #100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and #50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira Only) respectively, based on scoring records from the Panel of Judges, headed by Chief (Prof) Mrs. Josephine Mokwunye (Ugegbe-Obi of Issele-Uku), alongside members of the State Council of Arts and Culture, which included Barr. Maria Akputu, Chief Linus Osemene (Ogwuluzeme of Ubulu-Okiti) and Isioma Egwu.

The Onotu Chiefs who participated in the Royal Handshake (Inaka) with Obi Nduka were in their best forms and characters as these traits were equally exhibited in their traditional displays and actions. The nine of them - Chief Innocent Ashiedu (Iyase of Issele-Uku), Chief Francis Ijeh (Akogwu of Issele-Uku), Chief Victor Isiekwenamgbu (Ozah of Issele-Uku), Chief John Ochei Ph.D (Okwalegwe of Issele-Uku), Chief (Dr) Felix Nwani (Inene of Issele-Uku), Chief Gabriel Ebite (Agujiegbe of Issele-Uku), Chief Innocent Nwakpati (Omeogor of Issele-Uku), Chief Ignatius Memeh (Oloto of Issele-Uku), and Chief Fidelis Jigide (Esogba of Issele-Uku) did distinguish themselves in highly commendable unique ways