An interview with Obed Alli, the Chairman, Central Planning Committee, Aba Festival 2017.

The much-awaited 38th edition of the most crowd-pulling festival in Africa, Aba Festival is around the corner and, without doubt, all sons and daughters of Igarra kingdom as well as local and international tourists and visitors are looking forward to it.
Today, 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 engaged Mr. Obed Alli, the indefatigable chairman, Central Planning Committee for this year’s edition for a mind-blowing interview during which he bore his mind on the preparedness of his committee, preparation challenges and the state government involvement, security plans, among other burning issues.
Please, sit back and enjoy it.
𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗦𝗶𝗿?
Yes, of course.  First and foremost, let me quickly use this medium to appreciate Afemai Development & Transformation Initiative (ADTI) for allowing me on this platform, 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, to give account of my stewardship as chairman, Central Planning Committee (CPC) of this year’s edition of the prestigious historic Aba Festival.
By way of introduction, my names are Alli Obed Monday, a bonafide son of Igarra, the headquarters of Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Edo state. A businessman based in Lagos, I am happily married to Joy Evbakhaibokun and we are blessed with wonderful children.
𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝗔𝗗𝗧𝗜) 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.
Thank you, Sir.  God bless you.
𝗔𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹, 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟮𝟴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹?
The origin of the Aba cultural festival is almost lost to memory due to lack of historical records. It is originally a celebration of victory by hunters over the initial settlers of the land now known and called Etônô, (Etuno) Igarra.
The festival derives its name from the popular Aba Drum which is a relic of the Kwararafa in (Jukun kingdom) and an important symbol of Igarra culture brought along by Agbogumoza, a brave warrior and hunter of Eziakuta Opoporiku sub-kindred extraction who led the advance party of hunters along the entire trajectory of migration from kwararafa to the present day Etunoland.  The subsisting and surviving evidence of Agbogumoza’s superhuman abilities was his footprint on a rock known as Iretoji (Black Rock) located at the Okovoza axis of the rocky hills (Ifege in Igarra dialect) area of Igarra. That is why most of the songs rendered during the festival are original hunters’ songs of victory in Kwararafa dialect. Hence, some people think they are not Igarra dialect, therefore, having the wrong perception that the festival is adopted.
The Aba festival is the most spectacular/singular event in the celebration of Irepa Festival. It is the highest crowd pulling of all Irepa Festival events. It marks the climax of activities as it indicates the end of a six-year traditional administration tenure and the beginning of the new one which would last for the next six calendar years. It is an age-long, internationally acclaimed festival, which is held once in every six calendar years. It is adjudged the sixth most important unadulterated indigenous cultural festival in the whole of West Africa by Total E&P in their 2006 yearly publication.
The celebration of the festival marks the commencement of Irepa/Azebani title ceremony. It takes place on the third day after the Enu (the new yam festival) of the same Irepa year and this is usually in the month of August. This year’s main event is billed to hold on Friday, 25th August by God’s grace. It marks the graduation of the town’s Legislative & Executive age group called Opoze (Opa Avinebe) to the highly revered council of elders called Azebani.
The Opoze age group is unique in the sense that it is always the centre of attraction during the festival. This is because having been at the helm of affairs of the town for six years, its members are the chief celebrants of the occasion. Therefore, the beating of the Aba drum is the singular official rite which formally graduates members of one age group to the next one in the hierarchy.
Nevertheless, it is pertinent to note that the celebrants usually dress in immaculate white Agbada attire with bell/white horse tail, white cap and a pair of white shoes to match. And as a mark of honour to rever the celebrants, no other person, no matter how highly placed, is allowed to wear white on that day.
The forthcoming event is the recorded 38th edition in the history of the peace-loving and highly hospitable Igarra community. Igarra people from all walks of life, nooks and crannies of the globe, with friends and well-wishers come home either to witness or take part in it. The festival has witnessed a huge upsurge in the number of tourists attending it. The last edition, the 37th edition in the series, was witnessed by about five hundred and fifty thousand attendees including local and international tourists. The fourth since the return to civil rule in Nigeria, this year’s edition promises to be not only the biggest but the most spectacular edition ever as innovations and other activities have been introduced into it since it was first celebrated centuries ago. With the repackaging of the festival by Etuno Youth Association (EYA) and with Edo State Government’s endorsement as partner in the Aba project, the number of tourists and visitors being expected at this highly publicized edition shall, no doubt, double that of 37th edition.
Aba Festival has become a massive tourist attraction, and we believe that someday, it shall become so massive than our present estimation with international clout and flavor. Therefore, plans are on to list the Aba festival on the calendar of World Tourism Organization (WTO) as well as the World Heritage Festival of UNESCO.
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻?
It all happened in April 2010 at the first Igarra General Conference during which Etuno Youth Association (EYA) was unanimously endorsed to coordinate, project and promote the 37th edition of Aba Festival and also the subsequent editions.
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁, 𝗦𝗶𝗿?
The secret is no other than God with the collective efforts of all the committed committee members especially Mr. Taiwo Akerele and Monday Lawani who are distant members, my able president, P.M.Orisaremi, VP, Pstr. Bakare, Dominic Odigo, Moses Skinner, Jude Oseh, Ben Mayaki, Clinton Akande, Kelvin Onyana and a host of others.
With the great wealth of experience of committee members, we intelligently took advantage of the print, electronic and social media to achieve this massive publicity for this historic festival.
We are all working round the clock to ensure that this edition succeeds more than all the past editions.  I want to really appreciate them for the immense sacrifice.  My prayer is that we shall leave Igarra better than we met it to generations after us in Jesus’ name.
𝗦𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿, 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟰 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆?
To the best of our abilities, I can say that we are fully set and prepared.  However, we are beset with serious financial challenges due to the economic recession. The response from corporate organizations is below average, but we have resolved to do the best we can within the available resources to make the edition a memorable one.  We do know that expectations are high.   Therefore, since we have put our hands on the plough, we can’t afford to disappoint the people.
𝗦𝗶𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻?
It’s true that the government of Edo state has since 2011 endorsed the festival. And that was why for the first time in the recorded history of the 228 year-old festival, a sitting governor in the person of His Excellency, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole graced the 37th edition with some of his cabinet members, Senators, House of Representatives members and a sizeable number of Edo State House of Assembly members.
We renewed the endorsement for the 38th edition in July 2016 under the leadership of MacDonald as the honourable commissioner for Arts, Culture & Tourism. This is because it is a six yearly festival with the understanding that the government was going to change. And since government is a continuum, we decided get it done ahead of time.
And as a confirmation of Edo State Government’s endorsement and support, it was fully represented at our press conference of 2011 and 2017.
It is worth mentioning that Adams Oshiomole-led state government did not only support the 37th edition of the festival in 2011 morally, but also financially and materially.
This interview is incomplete if I fail to thank God for Comrade Abdul Oroh and Aanena Jemitola under whose commissionership the festival was endorsed and celebrated respectively. May God bless and keep them. They were, indeed, very supportive.
𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?
Historically, the festival has always been peaceful, and this edition is not going to be different.  Let me use this medium to remind those who are nursing evil plans and intentions that the symbol of the festival, Aba Drum, has a way of taking care of them. They should go and check history.
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲.
We have written letters to the DSS, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Civil Defence & Security Corps and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). They would be fully on ground weeks before, during and after the festival. The local vigilantes from the neighboring communities would also be co-opted. By God’s grace, the five entering points to Igarra shall be under the watchful eyes of the security agents.  They would be condoned off in the form of road block and stop and search methods by the security men.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮, 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹?
The festival shall be used to expose the rich tourism potentials of Igarra such as Ivokoto Spring Water, Agbogumoza footprint on Iretoji Rock; the rock with a human face in Somorika; 1/4 kilometre rocky bridge within the cave connecting one quarter of the ancient community to another; and the natural cave tunnels through which one can connect the three quarters without going through the normal and popular road; among others.
The state government has taken over the festival as a state affair by its full involvement in it. The newly appointed honourable commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism has passion for tourism, and he is fully committed to this festival project. This is the first major assignment he is handling on assumption of office.
With the full endorsement of the festival by the state government is ready to invest in the tourism potentials of the festival and develop it to become an earner for the state.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀?
Fund, of course.  We had planned to do so many things but for lack of sufficient fund.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗱𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹?
As usual, the state government will be fully on ground during the festival. The Executive Governor, Dr. Godwin Obaseki, his cabinet members including the honourable commissioner for Arts, Culture & Tourism and honourable members of Edo State House of Assembly shall play host to the festival.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹?
Let me use this medium to appeal to everyone to be law-abiding throughout the festival as it is not going to be business as usual.  The owner and custodian family has taken steps to perform the preceding rites of the festival and, therefore, anybody who perpetuates any evil before, during and after the festival will definitely have himself or herself to blame.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹?
Our committee shall be remembered for good as we have been able to project and promote the festival to the entire world like never before for two consecutive editions. No doubt, we have made our mark and we expect that the younger generations would build on what we have done and take it to the next level.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘀𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗢𝘀𝗲𝗺𝘄𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲-𝗘𝗿𝗼 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗯𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗚𝗼𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗸𝗶. 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
Of course, I see a massive breakthrough coming to Afemailand in terms of cultural and tourism development with Hon. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero as the helmsman at Edo State Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism.  By virtue of my position as the chairman of Central Planning Committee of this epoch-making festival, I have had the opportunity of working and walking with him.  He is a friend of Afemailand and he is very passionate and committed to the cause of harnessing the untapped cultural festivals and tourist havens available in Afemailand.
𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀?
I sincerely wish them happy celebrations and may the Almighty God bless them with long life and sound health to see Igarra of our dream in Jesus’ name.
𝗔𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗱.
I really, really give God thanks for sparing my life to see this special day in my life.  The only birthday gift which I want from God is the maximum success of the 38th edition of Aba Festival.  I want Him to crown the tireless efforts of all members of the Central Planning Committee with the tremendous success of the festival.
𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗜𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗘𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗼 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗯𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹.  𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁?
I am hearing it for the first time. I am yet to receive any formal notification from the organizers.  However, I feel humbled to be honoured by my own people.  But let me quickly make it very clear that I owe such award to God Almighty and all members of the Central Planning Committee of Aba Festival 2017 as I alone can do nothing without them nothing.
Until I receive a notification from the organizers, let me reserve my gratitude to them on behalf of my indefatigable committee members.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 & 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 (𝗔𝗗𝗧𝗜)?
I wish to appreciate and thank Ray Festus Symperr and ADTI for the good work. Please, be assured that I am free to make myself available in any area you think I can be of any assistance to you and your group.
One love and God bless you.
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