The need to celebrate a rich cultural heritage as well as interrogate the current moral drift in society to stimulate a fresh cultural rebirth has instigated the Traditional Rulers Council of Odukpani local government area in Cross River State to host the maiden edition of its cultural celebration.
Addressing reporters on the weeklong event of activities to mark the celebration, Paramount Ruler of Odukpani, HRM Dr Col. Ekanem Ita Ekanem, decried the pervasiveness of an alternative culture that was eroding the values of the people.
Tagged Celebrating Odukpani, Our Culture, Our Heritage, the celebration aims to promote the socio-cultural and spiritual nurturing of family and its well being that would form the basis for community and national development.
He said, “We are aware of the great demands and high expectations associated with maiden programmes. Fortunately this event has generated immense goodwill and support from the Odukpani community and all hands are on deck to ensure we have a historic and memorable celebration.
“Let me add that among our awardees is a frontline living legend in the person of Etubom Eniang Essien who at the age of 96 is still kicking and alert to translating the timeless values of discipline, diligence and dignity in modern world and generation where these mores are deficit and where we have millions of culturally displaced persons (CDP) in a society where debased sextology and short-cut to riches have estranged the living from a wholesome history.
“It is also noteworthy that despite all the trials and crisis of modernity, the largely heterogeneous Odukpani local government area has remained peacefully one and united, our community is a microcosm of Cross River/Nigeria with the Efiks, the Quas, the Efuts and Kiongs dwelling together.
“We want to showcase our peace and harmony. This is another enviable heritage we are celebrating and presenting to other communities as a paradigm for building new cultural friendships.
“In all we want humanity to pay more attention to the family as a bastion of enduring moral transfusion that can save future civilizations from bleeding to death.
“The reason for the CDPs is that we have family values and the basis of any culture emanates from the family. A child who is bad comes from a family. These family values are the things inculcated into us all and they form the cultural norms that we grow up with. In which case, we would have people who respect their elders, people who accept authority, people who go according to norms that society expects. But nowadays we have egoism in our system. We are aware of the disrespect we see in our children of today. We are also aware of the indolence we have in our society and many more, which are contrary to the family values we used to know, and therefore we started wondering why this should happen. It can only happen in a society that is warped. That society that has gotten an alternative lifestyle from what we used to know. Of swagger and doing things you know are bad because you cannot find anyone to check you. Everyone is now on the internet. No one is listening to their parents anymore. So the taproot of our culture is being seriously eroded. The reason is that we have an alternative lifestyle, propagated through social media. This alternative lifestyle has culminated in this debased attitude of our children and ourselves. And that is the reason for what why we have this high percentage of culturally displaced persons in our society.”
Ekanem also emphasized the need for the traditional institution to be enshrined in the constitution.
His words, “The traditional institution not enshrined in the constitution. We want to know why, because it was there before the 1999 constitution. I want the press to help the traditional institutions and create this awareness, so we might have justice and be incorporated into the Nigerian constitution, which would define our roles and our remunerations.
“You know the constitution is the bible of the nation and when you exclude any group of people, you are discriminating against them. The tradition institutions are still there and growing in numbers and quality. Today’s traditional institutions are made up of those who have retired from work and have reached the highest rung of their profession and have come back to dedicate themselves to building the community, which I have told you has a high percentage of CDPs. The amendment of the constitution has not seen the light of day, so the traditional institutions still remain outside the constitution. They should bring it back.”
The itinerary for the cultural celebration included visitations to Mary Slessor Home in Akpap Okoyong, charity institutions, the aged homes and a royal announcement to the Obong of Calabar and grand patriarch of the Efik Kingdom at his palace.
Also featured were the public lectures; The Role of Traditional Rulers in Governance by Muri Prof Itam Hogan; The Effects of Climate Change in our Communities by High Chief Prof Eyo Etim Nyong; and Natural and Economic Resources in Odukpani by Prof Ayara Ndem Ndiyo.
At the grand finale there was a thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Odukpani Qua parish and the main ceremony at the council field immediately after.
A lecture on the theme of the celebration was presented by Prof Onoyom Ukpong, a US based art historian and different categories of awards were be given to deserving recipients before a grand finale of rich cultural displays of the people.