Ogidi Monarch urges Gov. Soludo to intervene on sack of residents by flood 

…Decries destruction of valuable properties

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The traditional ruler of Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government area, Anambra state, HRM, Igwe Alex Onyido, has during the celebration of his 2026 new yam festival, urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to the rescue of the people following the menace of flooding that has wreaked havoc In the area.

Lamenting that it has submerged and destroyed  scores of buildings and blocked the ever-busy  Onitsha/Enugu old road at Ukwuoji, Igwe Onyido said Governor Soludo visited the community last year and pledged to fix the road.

“It is like he has had too much workload this year that may have made him not fulfill his pledge of working on the road.

This road is the most important road in the Southeast because it leads to Onitsha, Enugu, Otukpo in Benue state, among others.

“With the degree of damage done by the flood, one has to put in extra fuel to be able to go round while trying to drive past Ogidi.

Properties that include buildings estimated into millions of naira have been destroyed by the ravaging flood,” he revealed further.

On the new yam festival Igwe Onyido said it is a period of  giving thanks to God for the year’s harvest and praying to Him for a bumper harvest next year

He stated that the ancestors are first given the new yam to eat in a bid to appease them before he and the community will eat.

“It is a yearly festival in Igbo land and it unites the people with their in-laws, friends and well wishers. 

The new yam festival in Igbo land turns into a tourism site as visitors are thrilled with masquerades of different sizes, dance troupes, native doctors and others who parade and display the stuff they are made of, all aimed at adding colour to the new yam celebration,” he explained further.

Also on politics he advised politicians not to see politics as a do or die thing adding that one who kills his brother is not seen as a strong man.

He revealed that he still empowers elders of the community who have attained 75 years of age and above with monthly stipends for their upkeep.

“Those who have attained 75 years and above in the community are in my payroll, they receive monthly stipends from me as means of keeping body and soul together,” Igwe Onyido stated.