New yam festival: Soludo’s aide, perm sec task citizens to embark on agriculture to avert hunger

By Cyprian  Ebele, Onitsha 

The Special Adviser to governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, on Trade and Markets, Evarist Uba, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Samuel Ike at the weekend, stressed the need for the people in the state to embark on self farming as remedy for the hunger in the country.

Speaking during the maiden new yam festival of the president general of Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Humphrey Anuna, held at ASMATA secretariat, along Modebe road Onitsha.

Uba recalled that immediately after the nationwide hunger protest, that governor Soludo told  Anambrarians that the only way out of the hunger was agriculture, especially farming.

“This is what will sustain us, all should embark on farming and there is a new method of farming. You farm at your doorstep,  backyard, any little space, you now farm with baco bags. Governor said people should farm to stop hunger.

“The ASMATA is today celebrating his new yam festival, the yams he is using are the ones he brought from his farm and we need to emulate him as it is in line with the governor’s appeal for all to go into farming to stop hunger. It is a good thing to encourage people to farm,” he stated.

On the fear that Igbo culture and tradition may go into extinction, he reiterated that it is not possible adding that traditional wedding, kindred meeting, new yam festival, among others are part of the culture and tradition which unite most communities.

Also on the magic wand that brought about the peaceful atmosphere in markets in the state he disclosed that when a round peg is put in a round hole there will not be problem adding that Governor Soludo picked himself and others to sanitise, restore the lost glory of the markets and develop the markets.

“Also I am one of the traders and I grew up in Onitsha and as such I know the Knitty gritty of markets in the state. As a leader in the market you protect the traders and interest of the government. Once these things are done and government revenue generated, there will be no crisis in the market and this is what we are doing,” he further explained.

Contributing, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Commerce and  Industry, Ike, said that his presence represented the interest of the government in the new yam celebration by the ASMATA, adding that it showed the PG is doing well in piloting the affairs of the traders.

“”I am happy to see the crowd, that shows the PG is doing well. If not there wouldn’t have been this large turn up of the traders. New yam festival is what Igbos are known for. Yam is the Chief crop that is cooked, fried, pounded and roasted. These four things about yam represent the four Igbo market days. Eke, Orie, Afor and Nkwo.

“The yams we are eating I was told were brought from the PG’s farm and that is what the present administration is preaching, go and farm to sack hunger. All hands should be on deck for more farm produce as Igbos are known for farming,” he pleaded.

He expressed satisfaction that the president general has been able to increase the revenue base of markets to #4.5million in 2023 stating that the PG has pledged to even increase it to #5billion during 2024 fiscal year.

In his own contribution, the Onitsha Main market zone 11 Public Relations Officer, PRO, Hon Chijioke Okpalugo, stated that the ASMATA  PG was the first to celebrate a new yam festival as ASMATA PG adding that the yams were also cultivated in his farm.

“It shows that he is a good leader because he lives by example and as such should be emulated. I urge the traders to emulate our PG, he is doing us well and we will not relent in supporting our Governor through the PG.

“We also appeal to the Governor to enthrone good leaders at Onitsha Main market because what we have there are not good leaders but selfish leaders. Soludo is working and we have to pay our levies for development. He has sacked touts in the state,” he further disclosed.

In his response, the ASMATA PG said the new yam will be an annual event to promote culture in the markets and commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Governor’s aide, Uba, Permanent Secretary, market leaders,  traditional title holders and stakeholders for joining him to celebrate the new yam festival despite their tight schedules.

Highlights on the occasion were honouring the ASMATA with a plaque by his executives on behalf of the entire traders in the state and presentation of certificates to about 200 market stakeholders by the president general, for their contribution towards market development.