Omor is an agrarian community in Ayamelum local government area of Anambra state known for rice production in commercial quantity in the Southeast zone of the country on December 13, 219 stood still and agog following the second Ofala festival of celebration of Igwe Oranu Chris Chidume (Eze Ana-Ukwu, Eze Igulube of Omor).

Many people know about Omor but found it difficult to go to the community for business due to the dilapidated and deplorable road of the place. The coronation of new King of Omor, Igwe Chris Chidume in December 2017 has brought hope for the people of the community in the area of infrastructural development. The emergence of Igwe Chidume and subsequent celebration of Ofala festival exposed so many things about the Omor culturally, agriculturally, commerce and peaceful coexistence of the people.

In preparation to the Ofala festival the monarch did a palliative work on the road leading to his palace to enable the visitors to attend the rich cultural event on a smooth road.

The people from all walks of life ranging from politicians, businessmen, academics, diplomats, monarchs, religious, women associations and youth associations within and outside the state graced the colorful ceremony. These include the Minister of Labour and Empolyment Senator Chrs Ngige, the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Afred Achebe, Igwe Prof Laz Ekwueme of Oko Community, Igwe Alex Onyido of Ogidi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi, Igwe Augustine Ngody of Atani, Igwe Roland Odegbo of Nteje among other prominent monarchs.

The festival attracted business for the people of Omor who used the occasion to have bumper sale of rice and other commodities in this festive period as people who came to witness the Ofala festival stopped to buy rice and other farm produce from the area direct from the source while motorcycle riders known as Okada rider made a bricks businesses as they doubled the price of a drop due tie influx of people into the town.

Igwe Chidume at the Ofala welcomed the warriors of the town who came as early as 7am to the palace to inform Igwe that the community was safe to proceed with the festival, without their directive the Ofala would not hold, the warriors went round the town singing war songs with women and children following them and finally converged on the palace while the ceremony commenced in earnest.

Igwe during the eve of the Ofala known as Omor in focus where the issues that concerns the community were discussed, the developmental progression of the community yesterday, today and prospective of the town in future. He used the ceremony to give Ozo titles to six illustrious sons from the quarters of the community to include Chief Emmanuel Nwanaji, Chief Paul Egwuatu, Chief Paul Okeke Chief Chris Mmadubueze, Chief Fredrick N and Chief Emmanuel Nnebife.

The monarch also used the Ofala ceremony to honour some prominent people with Chieftaincy title including the State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce Chief Uchenna Okafor, the Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the President of Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu, Chief Agwuncha Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chief Chinedu Udezenwannia, Chief Ogugua Ethelbart Ebuka and Chief Emma Nebife.

The community show cased their cultural heritage with native dance groups, masquerades display, live bands within and outside the community and outside the community who entertained the guests.

As the Igwe retired into his palace with his cabinet and Ndichie various groups, clans, villages, communities and well wishers with cows, rams, goats, tubers of yam, fowls, crates of beers and soft drinks paid him homage, Igwe after their presentations prayed for them and gave them royal blessing of the year.

The traditional ruler, Igwe Chidume while addressing the natives and guests cried out to federal government to rehabilitate the Otuocha-Omor-Adani federal road that connects the agrarian community to other towns and states. He said that lack of access road has hindered the food basket of Anambra state from transporting their farm produce to the urban areas.

Igwe Chidume said: "I appeal to both the Federal and state government give urgent attention to the construction of access roads to our town and neighboring communities (Otuocha-Omor-Adani road).

"This will enable easy transportation of farm produce, which are presently produced in large quantity, from our town to other parts of the country where we will access a bigger market and at the same time, unblock the economic fortunes of the region.

"I call on federal ministry of Agriculture , ministry of water resources and Anambra state government to see the potentials of lower Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority project in Omor, as a veritable tool for exploiting economic opportunities in rice production and to expedite actions in the plans of resuscitating the project which will contribute meaningful to the economy of the state and Nigeria.

He however commended President Buhari for the proposed irrigation project under Value Chain Development Programme (VCP) supported by international fund for Agricultural Development, saying that the project when constructed would facilitate sustainable water supply to large scale farmlands to enhance agricultural productivity,reduce production costs for the smallholder farmers and support social economic development of the area.

The Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige who graced the festival promised that federal government would rehabilitate the Aguleri-Omor-Adani road due to its importance to the economic development of the community, the state and Nigeria at large.

He said that the road was first build by the administration of Alhaji Shehu Sagari where people and goods were transported from Onitsha to Nsukka, stressing that the road has collapsed and needed urgent attention.

"I will promise two things, if I get to Abuja I will make sure that at least FERMA will come to this place to do palliative work on the road, I'm assuring you that the road will be passable in this festive period. Then I will go and check whether this road is included in the budget for the year 2020, if it is not there, the federal executive council have decided that there will be categorization of federal roads because we have discovered that some roads called federal road leads to some privates homes. So I will make a special appeal to President Buhari for this road" Ngige stated.

He described Igwe Chidume as a good king who has the interest of the community at heart, saying that he attended his Ofala festival due to his personal attitude, saying that he doesn't attend to some traditional rulers ceremonies because some of them were liars. The President General of Omor Town Union Chief Michael Nnebuife also said discribed Igwe Chidume as Gods gift who came to redeem the community from its backwardness to an enviable height in development.

He said that this year's Ofala festival superseded the first Ofala, well organized, with unprecedented crowd who graced the ceremony within and outside the country, saying that next year's Ofala would also be greater than this year as Igwe promised to be celebrating his Ofala every year. "There are changes in the community since he ascended the throne two years ago. Our road is still motorable because he does palliative work on the road. He helps the farmers in this community, as you we produce rice in large quantities, he normally gives farmers money to cultivate rice which he gives every year. Then the process of given us water is on in the community. He promised to attract banks here and work has commenced for the construction of banks in our community.

"We have four quarters; Orenja, Akanator, Aturia and Amikwe. Our traditional stool is rotational among the quarters likewise the PG seat for the peaceful coexistence in the community, Igwe is from Amikwe and I'm also from this quarter with him. We had -6-man delegate for the cabinet members but when I came on board I look at the population and increased to 50 cabinet members. We also have elders council spread across the quarters" Nnebuife Some of the cabinet members Chief Francis Onwuachi, a legal practitioner based in Onitsha and Chief Paul Obiora commended the Igwe for doing so much towards the development of the town, in the areas of restoring lasting peace, education, job creation, water, banking sector, electricity, among others.