This year's Sallah festival was witnessed by numerous Anebira who travelled home for the holiday following the current peace in Ebiraland.On the eve of sallah, Okene main market was a sea of people shopping for the festival while traffic jam hindered movement on the highway.
EbiraView in the company of Ebira Opete TV and Angelina Theatre Troupe, visited the market to capture live transactions and happy moments. It was a carnival of snapshots and market women granted interviews.
At the eid, the chief Imam of Ebiraland, Alhaji Musa Galadima urged Anebira to that the current peace in the land is sustained. He used the occassion to pray for the lost souls and the victims of the crises just as he invoked Allah's wrath on anybody engaging in acts that could thwart the peace effort. He, however, prayed for individuals that contributed to the renovation of the Eid praying ground along Checking point, Okene.
A long procession of Ebiras followed the Ohinoyi, HRM Ado Ibrahim through Idoji to his father compound, Attah's palace. Drummers beat the Sallah tune, women and youths danced and everyone chanted 'Saaki' praising the Ohinoyi while the Okene LG boss, Alhaji Yahaya Karaku followed with his orderlies as the entourage proceeded.
Along the road were Ebira Peace Corps from Ebira Youths Peace Initiative Movement (EYPIM), directing the traffic and ensuring order from the passers-by. Speking with EbiraView in Idoji, EYPIM coordinator, comrade Mamman A. Yahya (Junior) who worked as a peace corp said that this year's Sallah is different.
According to him, the turnout is the first of its kind. 'As you can see, this has never happened before considering the number of people escorting the Ohinoyi back home. Everybody moving freely without discrimination. We urge every Anebira to ensure the sustenance of the peace we are all enjoying today so that we can have more of this in the years to come', he said.
On his part, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Ado Ibrahim said the time has come for a rethink in the people. In his address to Anebira, he said he is not gladdened by the royal praises until he delivered the duties expected of his office. 'When I have fulfilled your expectation as the father, I can now sit back to enjoy your accolades. I am committed to reviving the lost glories of Ebiraland and we shall all see its menifestation'. He used the occassion to pray for Ebiras and Ebiraland.
...and the peace is returned once again!
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