Cross River State - Royal Fathers Cleanse Obudu, as Community gets Set for New Yam Festival

[CrossRiverState]

Traditional rulers from the 36 clans of Obudu, Cross River State, on Monday gathered at the Local Government Council Headquarters to cleanse the community of any evil, with a vow to no longer tolerate cultism, crime, indolence and other anti-social vices.

Paramount Ruler of Obudu, Uti Joseph Agba, who officiated at the ceremony, said the Traditional Council was bewildered when recently a group of young men threatened the community by invoking the sacred leaves to seal up Government Offices.

Agba said it was "inconceivable that a group of youths would constitute themselves into hooligans to obstruct Government activities," cautioning that in future such brigandage would not be tolerated.

He maintained that it was the function of the Traditional Institution to employ the sacred bizu leaves to sanction defaulting subjects, adding that the youths who resorted to the use of this had desecreted the people's culture.

The Paramount Ruler, who was assisted in the cleansing exercise by His Deputy, Utsu Augustine Nawa, "said it was incumbent on the chiefs to jealously guard the traditional institution bequeathed on us by our forefathers".

Chairman of Obudu, Dr. Emmanuel Ikwen, commended Uti Agba for the initiatve of cleansing the land.

Ikwen said Council became embarrassed with the spate of lawlessness exhibited by the youths, which prevailed on it to seek royal intervention.

He said crime and boundary skimirshes had reduced tremendously since council fully involved the Traditional Rulers Council in community policing.

The cleansing involved Christian and traditional prayers, pouring of libation, slaughtering of traditional cow, among others.

Source: Royal Fathers Cleanse Obudu, as Community gets Set for New Yam Festival

[Folami David]

The festival is a must-attend for so many people in that state.