Aguata council marks 43 with cultural heritage

AGUATA Local Government Area is said to have been created on 11th May, 1976. The council area is one of the oldest and foremost local government areas in Anambra State. It used to be a combination of three local government areas interwoven into one viz Orumba-North and South, which thereafter became the old Aguata .
But the creation of new local councils saw the separation of Orumba-North and South from Aguata and thereafter, became two separate council areas now in existence. Be that as it may , Aguata still prides herself as the largest local government area of Anambra state with over 14 independent towns with solid economic base and Ekwulobia as the capital territory .
It is therefore against this historical background, that the council headquarters of Aguata Local Government Area hosted the 43rd anniversary of the creation of the council area which featured a display of her ancestry and cultural heritage, held on  May 11, 2019 .
The epoc-making event which attracted sons and daughters of Aguata origin from far and near, saw various acrobatic displays of masquerades and other cultural groups from various towns performing to the admiration of the people.
The conviviality and social intercourse provided by the event was such that the people saw the significance of having such a platform to showcase their rich cultural heritage, as well as recognise the efforts of those who have in no small measure deployed their resources and technical know-how to the development of humanity in general . It was an occasion to give honour to whom honour is due .
Governor Willie Obiano, who attended the cultural day by proxy said Aguata was one of the local governments areas that is close to his heart. Obiano, who was represented on the occasion by the Chairman, Anambra State Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Peter Egenti, described the cultural exhibition by Ndi-Aguata as second to none, stressing that they have done well to uphold the culture and tradition handed down to them by their forebears .
The governor therefore, extolled the efforts of the organizing committee  in putting up such a remarkable programme and stressed that his administration will continue to support such laudable initiative .  Chairman of the occasion and former Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area, Chief Titus Anagbogu, fondly called Ugwumba Aguata, underscored the essence of Aguata Day Celebration, noting that the day was set aside to go down memory lane on the evolution of the council area, as well as its vantage position in Anambra State .
Anagbogu said, ” we have appreciated the people who excelled in different places of endeavour from this local government and it is a very big achievement . Names of the awardees were generated not from this council. It was a joint effort between the council, the traditional institutions and the town unions. So, their names were generated locally from their people . ”
The former council chairman, who also functioned as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2019 Aguata Day Celebration said that Aguata Local Government Area has enjoyed the presence of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration in the area . According to him , ” Aguata is an APGA local government and the governor is doing perfectly well in the area . ”
He further described Aguata as a democratic local government council where the 14 communities practised egalitarianism in all issues of common interest . On the other hand , the state Commissioner for Housing,Emeka Ezenwanne,  who hails from Isuofia,  described the event as a clarion call to all Anambra indigenes of Aguata extraction to come home and identify with the countryside, as well as contribute their token to the development of the hinterlands . The commissioner equally took cognisance of the fact that the present state government has extended its developmental strides to all the nooks and crannies of Anambra State, including Aguata Local Government Area .
The House of Assembly Member-Elect for Aguata 2 State Constituency, Okechukwu Okoye, in his remarks, maintained that Aguata Day Celebration has provided grounds for the celebration and recognition of some sons and daughters of the local government who have contributed in no small measure to the growth and development of Aguata .
Okoye therefore stressed the need for youths to be incorporated into the scheme of things in subsequent editions of the event, even as he advised that youths should be allowed space to make valid contributions in the preparations and execution of the programme .
Meanwhile, Igwe Felix Eberendu Nnayelugo of Aguluezechukwu, Aguata Local Government Area said the 2019 edition of Aguata Day Celebration was worth its salt because it was well attended by indigenes and friends of Aguata, while expressing hope that subsequent editions would be greater and historical .
The climax of the celebration were awards conferred on deserving indigenes of the council area and a host of other ceremonies which added glitz and glamour to the occasion .