….LP Candidate Speaks At Eyirieyi Obohia Festival
By Patrick Mgbaja
Obohia Ahiazu Mbaise Imo State —The ancient town of Obohia came alive in ululation and cultural pride on Tuesday as residents of Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area gathered at the bustling Eke-Obohia Market Square for the annual Eyirieyi Obohia Cultural Festival.
The event, a cornerstone of the community’s heritage, was graced by Sir Basil Maduka, Labour Party standard bearer for the Owerri Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd, Sir Maduka framed the 2027 senatorial race as a moment of historical correction for Mbaise people.
He noted that for 28 years, the Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency has been absent from the senatorial seat of Owerri Zone, while other federal constituencies within the zone have had opportunities to serve.
“It is now the rightful turn of Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency to claim this crucial representation,” Maduka declared.
“I present myself as the only Mbaise indigene across all political parties to have secured a senatorial ticket for 2027.”
The Labour Party candidate used the occasion to market his party, describing it as stable, viable, and free from the court battles and internal crises plaguing other parties.
He referenced the party’s performance at the national level, stating that Labour has produced “the number one performing Governor in Abia State presently,” and promised to replicate such “exemplary governance” in Imo State and in the Senate.
Maduka urged the people of Ahiazu and Ezinihitte to rally behind the Labour Party, saying the 2027 election presents their best opportunity in nearly three decades to occupy the senatorial seat.
Beyond politics, the LP candidate commended the people of Obohia for sustaining the Eyirieyi festival, stressing the role of culture in Igboland.
“Culture is a fundamental identifier of our people and our language. When we preserve our festivals, we preserve who we are,” he said.
In demonstration of goodwill, Sir Maduka made a generous donation to support the festival’s activities.
The Eyirieyi Obohia Cultural Festival featured traditional dance displays, masquerade performances, feasting, and the gathering of sons and daughters of the community both at home and in the diaspora.
Community leaders at the event described the festival as a unifying platform that reinforces peace, identity, and collective aspiration.
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, Maduka’s appearance at Eyirieyi signals the Mbaise groups already pushing for what they call “equity and rotation,” a euphemism for Charter of Equity now being canvassed across the board among the three zones of Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu in the state.
