How Eze Justin’s 2023 Ofala Made Front Page News.
3 min read
The 2023 Ofala festival of HRM Eze Justin Ezeala of Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous Community in Njaba LGA Imo State which was celebrated last week has maintained an electrifying momentum among the trending news items across the public domain and the organized private sector, starting from last week and still counting. As the buildup for the event which was held on December 28, 2023 got on the rise, Umuaka Times reporters who went to the Unity Primary School Obinwanne, the venue of the event as early as 7:45 am, saw a heavy presence of an army of policemen and several private security groups. It was then that it became clearer that a unique and highly interesting big show was on its way.
It can be recalled that the events leading to the Ofala started on December 23, 2023 with the yearly empowerment program of the royal father where he empowered more than 400 persons across Njaba LGA and beyond. On December 24, several projects initiated by the royal father were commissioned, while December 28, 2023 was the day for the big event of Ofala festival, 25 years wedding anniversary of the monarch and 5 years of his throne. The collectivity of these events formed the grand occasion of the special ofala festival by the monarch.
The event started with a high Mass celebrated at St Patrick’s Catholic Parish Obinwanne where a team of reverend fathers celebrated the Mass for those who came for the event. As the mass service progressed, several VIP guests joined the Mass. When it was time for offering, the royal father and the entire Ezeala family presented the offering gifts with some of their family relations and friends. After the blessings, the Mass service went on until when it came to an end. Shortly before the end of the Mass, the officiating priest called upon the royal father to come up to the alter and make a presentation.
The presentation by the Onye Eze was focused on how to complete the St Patrick’s Parish building. From the list he had, the building was estimated to cost about N200 million and the Onye Eze announced that more than half of the money had been realized so far in the past. He announced a donation of N25 million from an anonymous donor. From the list he had, the Onye Eze announced his own personal donation and other donations which came up to 80 million Naira or thereabout. Shortly after this, the Mass service came to an end.
Several VIPs who were in the service were then seen exchanging pleasantries with the monarch as many photographers went on duty capturing every move the monarch made. Onye Eze had announced in Church that the people in church should be heading straight to the venue of the ofala while he and his entourage and the members of Obinwanne Council of Chiefs would proceed to the palace where some highly placed individuals would be bestowed with chieftaincy titles.
The event then shifted to the Chukwujiekwu Palace of Eze Justin Ezeala where several personalities both from Obinwanne and outside were given chieftaincy titles in recognition of their contributions for the progress of Obinwanne community.
With his entourage, security details, palace staff and a host of high profile personalities who came all the way from Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, HRM Eze Justin Ezeala took a walk to the venue of the ofala from his house. Upon his arrival at the venue, he went from one VIP tent to another acknowledging cheer from the people who stood on their feet to give him a roaring welcome. The main event has just begun!
