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A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlight village ground, it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to come together – Chinua Achebe.

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Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe is a well bred and cultured Nkerefi man who understands the beauty and value of appreciating and promoting communal spirit and togetherness among his people. His overwhelming emotion to his people is humility, love and support. His noble gesture to celebrate the stakeholders of Ndi Nkerefi who has contributed immensely to the growth of Nkerefi land is a loud testament of his deep understanding of the cultural norms of Ndi Nkerefi which honours and appreciates love, togetherness, philanthropism and respect for one another. He is a man who believes that in a community every man should find a reflection of his own soul in the mirror of each man soul, that will make the community values and norms to be cherished and respected. This is based on his philosophical disposition on communal life which is founded on the sober acknowledgement that communal life should not be a zero-sum game, in which some lose in order for others to gain but one in which one interest should not be separated from that of his neighbour, it is either we all loose or we gain!

It is as a result of this coupled with his magnanimous nature as a community man that he did not only recognize the essence of appreciating the AKU RU ULO philosophy which is being practiced by some illustrious sons and daughters of Igbo land but also deemed it fit to celebrate the new year with giveaways to his people so as to enthrone and sustain the rich cultural norm of love sharing in Nkerefi land. This gesture can only come from an altrustic and compassionate Nkerefi man who is naturally a philanthropist and a great lover of his people.

Engr Ogbuekwe, who has worked as a specialist Engineer in the USA and trained in the UK and France, understands the longing for home that most Ndi Igbo in diaspora have, is working to keep them connected to the homeland.

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It is based on this philosophy that on the 4th of January, 2021, Hon. Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, the SPA on Agriculture to the Governor of Enugu State Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Chinyelugo of OMASI celebrated the new year with his people as he gathered Stakeholders, men, women and children to his country home to celebrate the new year with them.

It is a good thing to celebrate and honour people with gifts of love, but a better thing to provide it in a merry atmosphere and best in a musical language that is natural and indigenous to all and sundry.

Hon. Ogbuekwe displayed all these character as he shared swanky package of giveaways, gave sumptuous meal to wine and dine and provided indigenous cultural music by Ukpaka, John Obasi and Okolobia Igbo to entertain his guest with the epic cultural melodies of the musical cultural heritage that Ndi Nkerefi is known for. The event was stately and splendiferous as magnificent canopies dotted with kaleidoscope of brilliant colour caught the eye of many. The event decorators gave their job a taste of professionalism. Infact, conviviality, impressive, excellence, uniqueness and colourful defined the event venue of the new year celebration.

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The high point of the event was the gifting of bags of rice to women from over 20 Villages of Nkerefi land to celebrate the new year and there profound display of gratitude to Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe for his magnanimity and gift of charity to them.

In his Speech, the Organizer of the event, The Hon. Mike, SPA to the Governor on Agriculture extolled His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for providing an enabling environment for peace to reign in Enugu State and commended him for extending his inclusive governance scepter to Ndi Nkerefi which enabled the appointment of several Nkerefi Sons to serve in his government. He also appreciated his people for their unflinching support and promised to always work for the betterment of Nkerefi land.

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Others who spoke at the event are: HRH lgwe Luke Ogbuta Okorie, Eze Anyanecheoha 1 of Nkerefi. In his words, He eulogized and the Organizer as a worthy son of Nkerefi land and commended him for deeming it necessary to remember his primary constituency with such swanky package of gift items to merry, dine and wine in the new year.

HRH. Igwe Sunday Onyekwere, Eze Chichiri Na Ohuani Amofu while speaking also extolled the magnanimous gesture of Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe for making the new year celebration a lively and colourful one for his people

Elder Dr. GOC Ajah, Executive Chairman, STVSMB in his appreciative speech commended His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his pragmatic and inclusive leadership in Enugu State and also praised the organized for extending largesse to the people of Nkerefi land admist the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

Some other dignitaries that attended the event include;

Hon. Prince Jim Chinonso Dubem, PG Nkerefi Development Union (NDU).

Hon. Engr. Ndubuisi Ani, PG, Ishienu Amofu Autonomous Community.

Hon. Felix Nweze, PG, Ohuani Amofu Nkerefi Autonomous Community.

Hon. Monday Diamond Ani, Special Assistant on Culture and Tourism to the Governor.

Hon. James Orji, Administrator, Nkanu South Development Center and Secretary, NDU.

Chief John Njoku, Ide Na Nkerefi.

Chief. Christian Ogbonna (Christag).

Chief Chijioke Odi (Chi Motors).

Chief James Dubem, Enyi Na Nkerefi.

Hon. C.O Edeh (Bond), Former Administrator, Nkanu South Development Center.

Hon. S.I Mbah, Former Administrator, Nkanu South Development Centre.

Hon. Augustine Onuoha (Oil Minister).

Chief Sam Nwaba, Onowu, Ohuani Autonomous Community.

Chief Jude Akpulu, VP, Ohuani Autonomous Community.

Hon. Augustine Aniobi, Chairman, Obuno Village.

Evangelist Benjamin Anyim, Former Member, Enugu State Pilgrimage Board.

Hon. David C. Ani, Technical Assistant to the Governor.

Hon. Innocent Edeh, Supervisor on Education Nkanu East.

Chief Cletus Nwanzi.

Hon. Simeon Ede.

Igwe Moon.

Hon. Jacob Offia Ani, Chairman, PDP Ward 1.

Hon. Edwin Anyim, Chairman, PDP Ward 2.

Others include;

Amb. Gabriel U. Odi, Hon. Ifeanyi Aniwogbu, Pastor Felix Orji, Hon. Sunday Ogbu, Chief Commander among others.

Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe with this noble gesture has come to reiterate the word of Cezar Chavez “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity of our community. Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirantions and needs of others, for their own sakes and for our own”.

Onye di ka Hon. Mike Ogbuekwe à kona kwa Ndi Nkerefi!