Xciting fishing festival
Government Area, Barrister Mohammed Musa Tanko, said this year’s fishing festival was to expand the scope of showcasing the rich culture of the Egbura people of Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom.
He said the Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom is blessed with numerous fish ponds such as, Enyi-Zihe, Iduu, Oriki, Ohembe, Ogumachi, Okotobo, Onkwo, AnaDagema, Unwe, Odumas-Kada, EnyiOnye, Iba and several others. He said such ponds are continuously harvested for over two months, while Ohio-ogbani has been exclusively reserved for only the period of the fishing festival.
The sole administrator noted that the Igu-Koton-Karfe has been enjoying 24 hours of electricity supply since last year, through the effort of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on investors to cash in on this rare opportunity to patronize the peace, goodwill and conducive atmosphere of the people through investment here in Koton-Karfe kingdom, “he said.
He added “Our people are predominantly farmers and fishermen who use classical fishing tools, we also intend to encourage our people to stoutly stand by this practice.
Bello, thanked the Ohimegye of Igu-Koton-Karfe and members of his traditional council, the state government and some corporate organizations for its support towards the success of the fishing festival, saying the fishing festival has social impact that it will bring ‘as it is an opportunity for us to meet after long period of time.”
In his keynote address, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, represented by the state commissioner for Transport, Mohammed Awwal Imam, said culture is the way of life of a people, while appreciating the people of Koton-Karfe kingdom to continue to uphold their culture
He commended the traditional ruler for his efforts towards reviving the Egbura culture, saying it was the first time he was seeing an elaborate fishing festival that has attracted every son and daughter at home and abroad who have all come together to witness the event.
Also speaking, the Ohimegye of Opanda-Umaisha, in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa state, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, said he came all the way from his chiefdom in Nasarawa state to watch the fishing festival, because of the brotherhood between the Egbura people of Opanda and Igu-Koton-Karfe people.
He said the Opanda and Igu-KotonKarfe are blood related owing to the fact that they have the same grandfather, which he said is the reason why he is also called, and bears the same title as (Ohimegye of Opanda).
“And that was one of the reasons I decided to come all the way from my chiefdom in Nasarawa state to also witness the fishing festival here in Koton-Karfe kingdom,” he said.
A Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) who is a native of Koton-Karfe kingdom, Shuaibu Lawal Gambo, said the fishing festival was an opportunity for him to come home to witness the festival, saying the fishing festival would help in reviving the Egbura tradition that was left behind by their forefathers.
He noted that the festival has also created a platform where elites of the kingdom who have lost contact with their friends, relatives and family members could now come together to discuss on how to contribute for the development of the Igu-Koton-Karfe kingdom.
“And I believe that repetition of this and other cultural activities would help to boost the economy of KotonKarfe kingdom. And there are many things that are attached to this festival, which I believe if government will give more priority to it, it will create job opportunities for our teeming youths and unemployed graduates,” he said.
The police DIG said the government also needs to contribute towards supporting the fishing festival through providing the required facilities that will make the festival become a standard one.
At the end of occasion, prizes were presented some participants. Those who came first, second and third positions were given prizes of brand new motorcycles, two Plasma televisions, deep freezer and DSTV decoder.