The Palace of His Royal Highness, Eze David Onuegwunwoke, the Traditional Ruler of the Akwakuma Autonomous Community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, recently witnessed a carnival of sorts on a day culture met politics, tradition inspired aspiration, while royalty opened gate for camaraderie.

The occasion was the 2026 edition of the annual New Yam Festival of Akwakuma, an age-long celebration that brings sons and daughters of the community home to thank the gods for harvest and to strengthen communal bonds.

Last Saturday, the Akwakuma community played host to a special guest, Prince Alex Mbata, the APC Senatorial candidate for Imo East, who arrived at the venue of the community’s new yam cultural festival with his entourage to a rousing ovation.

Youths drummed, women sang, while the elders nodded in approval. The palace courtyard was filled to capacity, the air thick with the aroma of roasted yam and palm wine, and the euphoria of tradition.

For Mbata, it was a homecoming of friendship. He described the monarch as his good friend, noting that his presence was to identify with the traditional institution and the people of Akwakuma.

“My good friend, I am here to support you on behalf of my wonderful partners and the people standing beside me,” he told Eze Udo III, his words greeted with applause.

In the spirit of the festival, which is about sharing and abundance, the senatorial hopeful announced a donation of N4 million to support the new yam festival and developmental projects in Akwakuma community.

The announcement drew cheers from the crowd, a gesture that many described as timely and thoughtful.

But Mbata did not stop at the celebration. He used the cultural platform to speak to the people about the future. He urged Akwakuma people to identify with the PAM Project, his political movement and development blueprint, describing it as a platform for collective participation and inclusive growth for Owerri Zone when he emerges in 2027.

He said the festival was not just about eating new yam. “It is about appreciating heritage, reinforcing unity, and charting a common path for progress”, he said.

He called for continued support, unity, and active participation, stressing that Owerri Zone can only develop when its people work together. He thanked the traditional ruler, the youths, the women, and the entire Akwakuma community for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage, and prayed for God’s blessings upon the land.

In his response, Eze David Onuegwunwoke, Eze Udo III of Akwakuma, did not hold back his gratitude. The revered monarch prayed for Prince Mbata, invoking God’s blessings, guidance, protection, and favour upon him.

He prayed that Mbata’s aspirations and good intentions for the people would be blessed, and that the land would favour him as he has favoured Akwakuma.

With kola nuts broken, libations poured, and royal blessings declared, the 2026 Akwakuma New Yam Festival came to a close, but not without leaving behind a clear message: that tradition remains a powerful meeting point for leadership and followership. And that, in Akwakuma, culture reigns supreme. (The Sun)