Soludo’s Aide Celebrates New Yam, Hails Umueri Airport Road as Economic Game Changer
By Ngozi Obileri | IchieTimes
Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has urged Ndi Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area to support candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the forthcoming general elections, citing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s award of the Umueri to Anambra International Airport Road as a major development for the community.
Ibezim made the call at Ogbu Village, Umueri, during the 2026 Umueri New Yam Festival organised by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Vincent Okechi, where he performed the symbolic eating of the new yam.
He described the road project, which spans over four kilometres, as an intervention that would open up economic opportunities for Umueri and neighbouring communities, particularly by improving access for farmers to transport their agricultural produce to markets.
The Deputy Governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support for Anambra State and called on residents to support his re-election, saying continued cooperation with the Federal Government would help sustain the dividends of democracy in the South East.
Describing the New Yam Festival as a revered Igbo cultural celebration, Ibezim said the occasion offered communities an opportunity to thank God for the gift of yam and a successful harvest. He prayed for improved agricultural yields in Umueri and other parts of Anambra State in the coming farming season.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, who attended the festival with her husband, said members of the Governor’s team were present to celebrate with Okechi, whom she described as one of their own.
She noted that Governor Soludo valued unity and a shared sense of purpose among members of his team. Nnake also described the Umueri to airport road project as a potential game changer for economic growth in Umueri and surrounding communities.
In his remarks, the celebrant, Chief Vincent Okechi, thanked Governor Soludo for awarding the road project, saying it would benefit Umueri and neighbouring communities.
Okechi explained that he organised the festival to bring his people together and honour the Governor, who holds several traditional titles across Igboland. He linked the celebration to the cultural significance of yam, widely regarded as the king of crops, and the traditional prayers associated with the festival.
He urged Ndi Umueri to continue supporting APGA, describing it as a party that had delivered democratic dividends to the Igbo for more than two decades. He also called for support for President Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Ben Nwankwo; the Chief of Protocol, Professor Frank Collins Okafor; mayors of Anambra West and Onitsha South council areas; and several commissioners.
The festival also featured cultural displays by the Ijele and Atu Okwomma masquerades, among others, showcasing the community’s rich cultural heritage.
