People of Akarai-Obodo in Ndokwa East LGA of Delta state, celebrated the ‘Ijele masquerade festival’ to usher in peace and unity to the locality .
The 2025 edition of the historic event, featured a “Special Home Coming“ organized by the community for a son of the soil, Hon Prince Emeka Osamuta, to the ancient Akarai kingdom in appreciation of his love and commitment to the prosperity of the people.
Hon Osamuta, is a Member representing Ndokwa East Constituency and also the Deputy Majority Whip of the Delta State House of Assembly.
Flanked by his wife, Doner, the youthful Lawmaker was elated to receive and usher top government functionaries, politicians, business executives and friends to the expansive Akarai Primary School field, for the traditional performances, including Masquerade concerts and other cultural displays.
The people through arts, crafts and dance, told the historical stories about the ancient Akarai kingdom, the Ijele festival and the dynamics that shape, inspire and influence love, oneness and unity in Akarai Obodo community.
Blended with a touch of modernization to further make the festival attractive and exciting, the people despite the much time devoted for display of their rich cultural heritage, also took time to draw attention to challenges they face and appealed for help.
Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme who was delighted to witness the Ijele festival with history of over two centuries, commended the people of Akarai kingdom for their steadfastness with the PDP which part of the dividends was the emergence of their son, Prince Emeka Osamuta as a member of the Delta State Assembly.
While urging the people to sustain their support for the Oborevwori’s led administration, Sir Onyeme promised to mobilize stakeholders to open up the area for development including construction of access roads to connect Akarai to other parts of the state.
President General of the Akarai-Obodo, Mr Emeka Onyeme, and another prominent son of the community, who is the Chairman Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon Justice Adolphus Enebeli, highlighted the urgent need for the construction of the only road that links Akarai-Obodo to other communities in the locality, including Akarai- Etiti, Umuti, Onogbokor, Iyede Ame, Azagba, Umuolu, Onyiah to Aboh, headquarters of the local government council.
They also appealed to the Delta state government, corporate bodies and other development organizations to attract social amenities to the area, particularly telecommunication service providers as the people are presently cutoff from communication with other parts of the country.
The roll call include the Delta State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, some members of the State Legislature, Civil Commissioners, Special Advisers, Local Government Chairmen, party leaders and elders, including a frontline politician in Ndokwa East, Chief Godswill Obielum.
The people, made up of men and women, young and the elderly, with unique dressing styles and abilities, came out in their large numbers to dance with different masquerades and the ijele masquerade across the streets of Akarai-Obodo community.
