By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has declared that the people of Izhi clan remain united, firm and indivisible, saying no political development will undermine their collective resolve to advance the socio-economic development of the area.
Nwebonyi stated this on Friday in Abakaliki while speaking with journalists during activities marking the 2026 Izhi New Yam Festival, popularly known as Ojiji Izhi.
The senator described the annual festival as a significant expression of the people’s cultural identity and ancestral heritage, noting that it had assumed greater importance because of its capacity to strengthen unity among the various components of Izhi land.
According to him, yam occupies a central position in Izhi tradition, serving not only as a major source of food but also as a historical measure of wealth and social standing. “Yam is equivalent to human being in Izhi tradition. It is not only the head of our food, but the basis of the measure of wealth in Izhi history,” Nwebonyi said.
He disclosed that he and other Izhi people had earlier visited Anmergo, which he identified as their ancestral home and place of origin, as part of activities marking the festival.
Nwebonyi said the visit deepened his appreciation of cultural practices handed down by the ancestors, recounting an incident during the traditional ceremony in which the traditional leader, Ishuke, performed the customary kola nut rites after receiving gifts from the delegation.
He said the ceremony involved the breaking and blessing of kola nut in accordance with Izhi tradition, alongside the use of pepper and wine.
According to him, a male fowl subsequently moved into the gathering and consumed the pepper and kola nut, describing the incident as a remarkable cultural experience. “We are all Christians, but we have our way of doing things the way our ancestors did it and the way we will do it to the end of time,” he said.
The senator stressed the need to preserve indigenous traditions despite changing socio-political realities, saying the experience had enriched his understanding of his cultural heritage and identity. “I have added to my knowledge about culture, about who I am, about an Izhi man,” he stated.
On the political implications of the festival amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, Nwebonyi said the Izhi people would remain focused on development and would not allow political activities to undermine their unity. “We will continue to develop Izhi land. We will continue to develop Ebonyi. You have seen what I did, and what you have seen is the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
On the role of the New Yam Festival in promoting unity and development, Nwebonyi said the traditional institution and the various components of Izhi land had demonstrated a shared understanding of their responsibilities to one another. “In summary, I can tell you we are united. We are firm. We are indivisible,” he declared.
He maintained that every component of the Izhi family understood its obligations and would continue to work collectively for the advancement of the people. “Nobody will distract us because distracting us means going back to Egypt. We can’t go back to Egypt,” Nwebonyi said.
The senator further expressed confidence in the collective direction of the people, saying the Izhi community was moving forward as brothers under their leadership. “We are now moving as united brothers under the leadership of Francis and Wilfred. So, we are good to go,” he added.
The 2026 Ojiji Izhi celebration brought together members of the Izhi community from different locations, providing an avenue for the reaffirmation of cultural values, ancestral ties, communal solidarity and the preservation of the people’s traditional heritage.
[8/28, 9:07 PM] Nkechinyere: Ebonyi to Enrol Additional 200,000 Citizens in State Health Insurance Scheme
By Nkechinyere Ewa
The Ebonyi State Government is set to enrol an additional 200,000 citizens into the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme as part of efforts to expand access to affordable and quality healthcare in the state.
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru disclosed this on Thursday when he received the National Executive Council of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), led by its President, Prof. Apollos Ndukuba, at his office in Abakaliki.
The governor said his administration remained committed to improving the welfare of medical doctors, healthcare workers and allied medical personnel in the state.
Nwifuru said the government had prioritised the welfare of healthcare workers because of their critical role in delivering essential medical services to the people.
“In Ebonyi, we believe that when we go into government, we prioritise the welfare of others,” he said.
The governor explained that the significant increase in the emoluments of medical personnel in the state was part of measures to motivate them and improve healthcare delivery.
He said his administration had also activated the state’s general hospitals, recruited medical doctors, health attendants and other allied medical personnel, as well as provided mobility support for doctors resident in the general hospitals.
“We did all these because we want them to render these essential services for our people,” Nwifuru said.
He noted that the government had embarked on extensive infrastructural interventions across the state’s 13 general hospitals, resulting in increased demand for specialist medical services.
According to him, the improved facilities have created the need for consultants to complement the services being provided by resident doctors, particularly in rural communities.
“Let me also inform you that the Commissioner for Health in the state has briefed me about the need to bring consultants to the 13 general hospitals. I am happy you are here. Please volunteer, even if on adjunct or part-time basis,” the governor appealed.
Nwifuru said the government was determined to ensure that the investments in healthcare infrastructure translated into improved medical services for residents across the state.
Earlier, Prof. Apollos Ndukuba, President of MDCAN, explained that the association is an amalgamation of medical experts who serve as trainers in public teaching hospitals and provide specialist healthcare services.
“We are the doctors that train doctors and provide specialist services in all the teaching hospitals,” he said.
Ndukuba said the MDCAN National Executive Council meeting, tagged “Salt City NEC August 2026 Meeting,” was themed “Mitigating Health Impact of Nigeria’s Rising Multidimensional Poverty: The Dilemma of the Healthcare Provider in a Strained Economy and the Demand of Work.”
He described the theme as timely and apt, given the prevailing economic realities and their impact on healthcare providers and citizens.
The MDCAN president expressed appreciation to Governor Nwifuru for the massive infrastructure projects transforming the state’s healthcare sector.
He commended the governor for what he described as significant investments in medical infrastructure and facilities across Ebonyi, saying the developments were visible across the state’s health sector.
The proposed enrolment of an additional 200,000 citizens into the state health insurance scheme is expected to further widen access to healthcare and complement the government’s ongoing investment in health infrastructure and human resources.