By Silvernews
The President-General of Ezeji Mbaise, Ezeji Chief Linus Nwajere, has assured that the 2026 edition of the Iri-Ji Mbaise Festival will retain its rich cultural and spiritual significance while being celebrated on a scale that will attract national and international attention.
Nwajere gave the assurance while receiving members of the Central Planning Committee for Iri-Ji Mbaise 2026, who briefed him on the outcome of consultations with traditional rulers and government officials across the three Mbaise local government areas.
According to him, the annual festival remains a sacred covenant between the people of Mbaise and Almighty God, symbolised through the celebration of the new yam harvest, and must therefore be protected from any form of distortion or desecration.
He stressed that Ndi Ezeji, as custodians of the yam festival tradition, would continue to uphold the culture and spiritual values of Iri-Ji Mbaise in their original form, insisting that no individual or group would be allowed to undermine its sanctity.
The President-General recalled that he recently inaugurated the Central Planning Committee for the 2026 festival, chaired by Ezeji Dr. Kachi Nwoga, with Ezeji Anistus Ogu serving as secretary, to coordinate preparations for the August 15 celebration.
Briefing the President-General, the committee disclosed that it had held productive meetings with the chairmen of the three statutory councils of Ndi Eze in Aboh, Ahiazu and Ezinihitte Mbaise, as well as the Chairman of the Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Mike Orji, and the Executive Chairman of Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Iheukwumere Alaribe.
The committee noted that discussions with traditional rulers and government authorities showed a common resolve to work together towards a successful and widely celebrated Iri-Ji Mbaise 2026, adding that a final harmonisation meeting with the three local government chairmen has been scheduled for June 11.
Ndi Ezeji also dismissed reports of another Central Planning Committee allegedly constituted by Ezuruezu, maintaining that any such committee lacks the endorsement of both Ndi Ezeji and Ndi Eze Mbaise, the recognised custodians of the festival.
They advised members of the public to deal only with authorised structures and warned against making payments into unauthorised accounts in the name of Iri-Ji Mbaise.
The traditional custodians further expressed concern over what they described as attempts to undermine the cultural integrity of the festival, citing events surrounding the 2025 celebration.
They reiterated their commitment to ensuring that future editions of Iri-Ji Mbaise remain faithful to tradition and the values handed down by generations of Mbaise ancestors.
Commending the Central Planning Committee for its efforts, Nwajere expressed confidence that the 2026 festival would be one of the most successful in the history of Mbaise and promised to make further public statements on the preparations in the coming days.
