BUILDING, AND CEMENTING RACE AND RELIGION DURING NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

BUILDING, AND CEMENTING RACE AND RELIGION DURING NEW YEAR CELEBRATION.

Cattle dealers from Ugwuoba Cattle Market

Hon Toby Okechukwu

The #Ikukuoma political house, Ugbonabo, Awgu local government area of Enugu state, played host to the cattle dealers from Ugwuoba cattle market, on 3rd January 2020.

The traders delegation led by the Oji river south Administrator, Hon Chukwuma Iloefe,  had come to celebrate the new year festival with the Deputy minority leader, House of representative, Chief Barr. Toby Okechukwu, as a way to  reciprocate his previous gesture, having celebrated with them during the last sallah celebration.

It is no longer news , that it takes some exceptional commitment and wisdom, to maintain peaceful relationship among people of diverse religious beliefs, especially between Christians host community and predominant Muslim cattle dealers, as we have at Ugwuoba gariki cattle market, in Oji river local government area of Enugu State. That gives an insight into what Barr. Toby Okechukwu have achieved by his continued interface with these cattle dealers, their tribes and religious inclinations notwithstanding.

It was a remarkable joyous moment , as the visitors feasted,  amidst excitement at the degree of integration they have attained.

The PDP chairman of the Gariki market, Alhaji Umar Madu Aji in his speech, extolled their chief host, Barr Okechukwu, for the numerous developmental projects he attracted for them, some of which are skill acquisition, empowerment, scholarship, school building and road infrastructure which he said they are grateful for.

Their general secretary Alhaji Jubrin Madaki in his own speech thanked Toby for reaching out to them and celebrating sallah with them regardless of his Christian belief. He particularly said it was that good gesture they had come to reciprocate, so as to cement the bridge of understanding his visit engendered.

They thereafter presented gift items and prayed for the good health of their host, his family and the entire #Ikukuoma political household.

Barr Okechukwu in his response thanked them for honouring him with their presence in his country home. He also thanked them for maintaining peace with their host community. He said the essence of the school facility he built for them was born out of his belief that "education guarantees development and advancement of human civilization". That with good education, wise investment and business decisions would be made to advance their business interests.

He finally prayed for their safe return to their base as he wished them a peaceful and prosperous new year 2020.

The feast continued with merriments and sharing of pleasantries amongst those gathered

Hon Tochukwu Chukwu

Reporting from Ugbonabo.