Edumoga Land celebrates 100 Years of Chiefdom.
… Installs Okwute of Edumoga
Plans are underway for the centenary celebration of Edumoga Chiefdom and Edumoga Annual Cultural Festival, hints from the office of the National Chaplain of Saint Mathew Edumoga Catholic Community has revealed.
Business Africa Digest recalls that the first Ede-Edumoga Chief Ikwumonu Okpotu was appointed on the 14th October, 1923.
Reverend Father Emmanuel Oche Ogah, the National Chaplain told our correspondent in a telephone interview that already the Okwute has been officially installed in Olanyega, the traditional headquarters of Edumoga, as part of efforts to kickstart the week-long event.
Edumoga is one of the 22 districts in Idomaland with very rich culture and tradition, laced with people who are habitually benevolent.
Speaking further on the event , the National Chaplain said the installation had in attendance elders and beaded chiefs who observed a 24- hour vigil until it was formally installed.
In a chat with the Secretary of the central planning committee, Mr Emmanuel Onah, he said by this ritual, Olanyega has been re-established the spiritual, ancestral and traditional headquarters of Edumoga nation.
He noted that by implication of this very traditional ritual, the Ede-edumoga and all Edes to be appointed or elected henceforth are to be resident and hold court at Olanyega.
As part of efforts to accord the desired respect to the occupant of the stool of the Ede, he revealed that a befitting palace is being proposed to be built at Olanyega where he will hold court, just as Olanyega community has donated over two hectares of land for the Ede’s palace.
The donated land is asides other commitments by the community for the successful take off of the Ede’s court.
According to him, one of such commitments is the donation of a bungalow by a worthy son of Olanyega as a temporary court for the Ede and his Chiefs in Council.
He also said that the Community has also acknowledged the traditional importance of the office and the person of the Ede-Edumoga and pledged to ensure their security.
Meanwhile, the Central planning Committee for the
Centenary celebration and the Edumoga annual cultural Festival has lined up a week- long programme of event beginning from October 30, 2023, with a symposium to be held at Holy Ghost parish pavilion in Eke olengbecho by 9.00am.
The symposium will be attended by traditional rulers, church leaders, political leaders, women leaders, Youth leaders, opinion leaders, Technocrats, community leaders and village heads.
The second day of the event, October 31, will witness the Edumoga National Youth Day, which has been scheduled to hold at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Pavilion Ojapo by 9.00am and the target audience will the youth, Edumoga leaders and others.
The third day of the celebration, November 1st, 2023 which promises to be an exciting one is the Edumoga Women’s Day to hold at Odessassa field Ugbokolo by 9.00am, while the fourth day Nov 2, will be the Pilgrimage to Aokpe Pilgrimage center starting with Holy Mass by 9.00am for all christians.
November 3rd is being scheduled for paying homage to the Ede of Edumoga and accreditation of Honor recipients and gala nite which will take place at Saint Peter Claver Parish premises in Olanyega by 12 noon.
The Grand finale for the centenary celebration which is November 04, will witness the Edumoga day, Immortalization of past Ede of Edumoga and fund raising for the chief palace and will hold at Saint Peter Claver Parish Pavilion, Olanyega beginning with Holy Mass at 10am.
In his message at the occasion of the installation of Okwute of Edumoga, the National President of Ede-ma
Mr Michael Agbam congratulated the 3rd class chief of Edumoga, Chief Emmanuel Ochechema, Ede-Edumoga Chief S.S. Abah, all the Ward Heads, all the Beaded Chiefs, Clan Heads, Village Heads, and all sons and daughters of Edumoga Chiefdom for this historical landmarks at our time and generation.
