Oha Owerre, a group of elders who act as custodians of the culture and tradition of Owerri Nchi Ise community, has dismissed a recent comment credited to Chief TOS Oparaugo from Umuororonjo village to the effect that: “Oru Owerri cultural festival would not be celebrated with fanfare as usual, at best, the Oha Owerri may be permitted to do some traditional functions but it would not be elaborate.”
Speaking to Nigeria Newspoint Tuesday, the group said after a meeting where it deliberated on comment of Chief Oparaugo, which was published on the back page of the Nigeria Newspoint Newspaper of Monday, May 30, 2016 and continued on page 13, it decided to let the people of Owerri Nchi Ise and the public know that, Chief Oparaugo was incompetent to talk on issues of Oru Owerri cultural festival adding that, Oha Owerre is independent on issues pertaining to Oru Owerri festival.
Continuing , the group said it would not take instructions from anybody as far as Oru Owerri festival was concerned, while describing Oparaugo’s comments as a figment of his own imagination.
Oha Owerre also described as erroneous, a statement also credited to same Oparaugo in the said media report that: “Oha Owerre does not crown Eze”. It said Oha Owerre crowns Eze according to traditions of Owerre people as it is also done in Egbu, Uratta, Awaka and others within Uratta clan and Alaenyi.
Oha Owerre therefore made it clear that it would not take it kindly for anybody no matter his status, to usurp the responsibility of Oha Owerre.
