HRM, Igwe MacAnthony Elibe Okonkwo of Alor Kingdom set to celebrate new yam festival, requests for Railway to be extended to South-East

www.odogwublog.com reports that as Nigeria gradually returns to rail transport system following the commissioning of the first phase of the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Rail Gauge by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, the traditional ruler of Alor Kingdom, HRM Igwe Igwe MacAnthony Elibe Okonkwo has commended the President and beckoned on him to ensure that major cities in the South East are linked.

The Monarch who made this appeal in his palace at Alor in a press statement on his forthcoming second Iwa ji festival (new yam festival) on Saturday August 6th, 2016 said the roads when linked with railway system, will bring about rapid socio-economic development and improve the quality of lives of Nigerians and as well promote regional integration.

He also urged the President to make haste in addressing all ethnic and sectional differences in the country by ensuring that all regions get what is due for them.

“President should ensure that there is what I call political balancing across all regions. Let all political zones be fully represented in governance as a panacea to Nigerian problems.

“And for my fellow Nigerians, let us embrace peace, let us shun any act of religious bigotry and fanaticism for we are all one before God. If there is peace in our country, Nigeria will move forward. So, let all hands be on deck in championing a course for national peace and unity” he said.

On the new yam festival, Igwe MacAnthony explained that New yam festival in Igbo Land heralds period of bumper harvest and a time to foster peace, understanding and love among indigenes of various communities.