By Nkechinyere Ewa
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has urged the Izzi people to resist orientations that run counter to the clan’s traditional values and grand norms.
Nwifuru made the call on Saturday at Amagu, the ancestral home of Izzi, during the grand finale of the Ojiji Izhi New Yam Festival celebration.
He said the core values of the Izzi people included respect for elders and revered establishments, dignity of labour, hard work, peace, unity and communality, urging the people to preserve them for generations yet unborn.
The governor expressed concern over the erosion of cultural values, particularly the sale of ancestral lands to strangers, including family graves and tombs of forebears.
He attributed part of the erosion to what he described as wrong perceptions of religion, stressing that tradition and religion were distinct and did not necessarily conflict.
“Many have confused religion for tradition and have failed to locate the difference between the two. There is sharp demarcation between the two and they do not conflict and clash in their operations.
“Tradition is not human sacrifice, which is what divinity and humanity condemn,” he said.
Nwifuru also criticised those using social media to attack his administration ahead of the 2027 governorship election, saying such platforms should not be used to deny the achievements of government for political purposes.
“We have completed more than 500 kilometres of roads across the 13 LGAs. We have done roads connecting other states with span bridges. I am shocked that people are saying we have not done anything for the state within the last three years in office,” he said.
He urged Ebonyians to recognise the administration’s achievements rather than allow political interests to influence their assessment of its performance.
“People should not leverage social media to castigate our leaders and deny our sincere performances all in the name of politics,” he added.
Speaking on the 2027 political arrangement in Izhiland, the governor said power had been balanced between the two kindreds in the clan in the interest of equity and social justice.
“In the context of 2027, we have balanced power among the two kindreds in Izhiland for the sake of equity and social justice. No one should fight against this established order.
“Those working against established order, causing disaffections are strange elements, as these are not Izhi grand norms. We must resist them,” Nwifuru said.
Earlier, Edward Nkwagu, chairman of the apex cultural event, said good morals, sincerity, forthrightness, industry, justice, equity and fairness were among the virtues the ancestors of the Izzi people worked hard to instil in their descendants.
Nkwagu, however, expressed concern that modernity and Western orientations were gradually eroding the values, noting that a large percentage of youths had become touts disguised as real estate agents.
He called for renewed efforts by traditional institutions, families and community leaders to preserve the cultural values and moral standards of the Izzi people.