ISSELE-MKPITIME/Nigeria: The peaceful town of Issele-Mkpitime in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State was a spectacle of culture, colour, and celebration on Saturday, October 4, 2025, as its traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Sunday Ubaka Ogboli, led indigenes and guests in the annual Ine-Aho festival — a cherished tradition symbolizing gratitude, unity, and renewal.
The festival, which drew sons and daughters of the community from far and near, showcased the richness of Issele-Mkpitime’s heritage as the monarch, adorned in full royal regalia, presided over the day’s events. In an atmosphere filled with joy and thanksgiving, the people gathered to appreciate God for His blessings over the past traditional year and to usher in a new one.
The celebration began with a sacred procession from the royal palace to Abuano, the spiritual centre of the community, where the Obi, accompanied by the Iyase, High Chiefs, and the Chief Priest, offered prayers and sacrifices to God for peace and prosperity. The solemn moment was followed by a resounding twenty-one-gun salute each for the king and the Iyase, signaling the beginning of festivities.
With the royal rites completed, jubilation spread across all quarters of Issele-Mkpitime as drummers, dancers, and youths filled the streets with traditional music and chants, marking the end of the fasting period and the beginning of the Ine-Aho feast. The celebration climaxed at the royal palace, where the monarch hosted the traditional handshake ceremony and received homage from his chiefs.
Leading the Onotu Chiefs, Chief Lawrence Njiokwu, the Iyase of Issele-Mkpitime, performed the first traditional handshake before the king in a dramatic display of cultural grace, traditional dance, and allegiance. One after another, prominent chiefs — including Chief Patrick Okonkwo (Odogwu), Hon. Chief Krees Njiokwuemeni (Onu-Obi/Isama Oligbo), Chief Benjamin Nwabuzor (Ihama), Chief Fidelis Jigide (Esogba of Issele-Uku), and Chief Victor Isiakwenemgbu (Oza of Issele-Uku) — followed the same revered tradition, receiving royal blessings in return.
The second phase of the event featured the Idime Chiefs or honorary title holders, led by Chief A.C. Nwaobi (Ogwuluzeme) and Chief Paul Ngbanwa, who paid homage to the monarch with their traditional insignias of office. The king, in turn, touched their insignias with his royal staff of authority and pronounced blessings upon them and their families.
In his royal address, His Majesty, Agbogidi Obi Sunday Ubaka Ogboli, expressed joy over the successful celebration, describing the Ine-Aho festival as a divine occasion for thanksgiving and communal renewal. He thanked the people of Issele-Mkpitime for their loyalty and support since his ascension to the throne, urging continued peace, unity, and collective progress.
“Ine-Aho is not just a festival; it is a reflection of our identity and gratitude to God for His mercy and sustenance,” the monarch said. “It is a moment for us to renew our bond as one people and to pray for greater blessings in the years ahead.”
Prominent chiefs, including Chief Njiokwu, Chief Okonkwo, Chief Nwabuzor, Chief Nwaobi, and Chief Ngbanwa, also expressed appreciation for the successful outing, describing it as a testimony of divine favour and unity among the people.
Similarly, Engineer Fidel Onwodi, High Priest Mark Mokwunyem, and other indigenes praised the festival for rekindling the spirit of togetherness in the community, saying it remained a powerful reminder of Issele-Mkpitime’s enduring cultural legacy and the importance of faith, peace, and unity.
The 2025 Ine-Aho festival thus reaffirmed Issele-Mkpitime’s reputation as a beacon of Anioma’s living traditions — a celebration where faith meets culture, and the bond between king and people grows ever stronger.
