By Patrick Ochei
ISELE-UKU/Nigeria: Issele-Uku, the headquarters of Aniocha North LGA of Delta State, once again was reignited in love as Indigenes gathered in a social ceremony of brotherhood at the country home of Hon. Philip Kawekwune, Councillor representing Ward 6 at the Legislative Arm of Aniocha North Council, to celebrate the yearly Owokor feast.
Owokor is a concept of reuniting Issele-Uku youths in love, created over 10 years ago by Hon. Philip Kawekwune as a lover of his town who then resided in Lagos.
However, on coming back home permanently, he maintained the platform which opened the way for him to become the Home President of Issele-Uku Progressive Youth Association.
Perhaps, in the last six years, Hon. Kawekwune had redefined Owokor which usually was the gathering of Issele-Uku people every morning of 1st January where big goats were killed and prepared in a local manner with yam and other ingredients that the people would eat in love.
But today, Owokor has gone beyond that with the inclusion of solid food eaten with Akwu and Onugbu soup and of course rice.
According to Kawekwune, “Owokor ceremony is my idea of appreciating my people who have stood by me all these years from nobody to somebody. I feel happy doing this every year to the glory of God.
“Owokor has brought together my people these past few years and I hope to continue doing this as long as there is life. I have no choice but to continue doing it. You can see that we have migrated from just yam pepper soup to food with Banga and Bitter leave soup and rice. We will continue to show gratitude to God in this manner”, Kawekwune said.
Meanwhile, when asked if it was an only male affair, he said no, insisting that because it is usually a morning thing, it would be difficult for ladies to partake in it due to cooking and doing other domestic works at home.
Nonetheless, Kawekwune promised to initiate ways that would get the women interested in participating in future events.
For this 2021 edition, eminent youths of the town like the National President of Issele-Uku Progressive Youth Association, Mr. Onyeisi Mokogwu, NULGE State President, Comrade Ziko Okwudi, NUJ State Secretary, Comrade Patrick Ochei, Lagos based Movie Maker, Songito Ashiedu, former Lagos Chapter President of IPYA, Mr. Chuks Nwaobi, PDP Ward 7 Chairman, Pastor Obi Ebegbunem, Delta State Football Coach, Mr. Felix Ochei and others too numerous to mention were present.
