By Brave Dickson
The Ijaw traditional priests have announced August 28, 2023, as the commencement date for their week-long annual spiritual festival.
The date was made public in a letter written by the Izon Traditional Council of High Priests and signed by the High priest of Bou – Okusu – ere, deity, Otolo D. Oyinmiebi.
According to Oyinmiebi, the essence of the festival is to stop the calamity, ravaging the Ijaw people in Nigeria and the diaspora.
He said, “Every year, our people keep suffering from diverse calamities, ranging from flood, mysterious deaths, and violence—fire outbreaks among others.
“These calamities have destroyed countless lives and properties across the Ijaw ethnic nationality in Nigeria and diaspora.
“We can stop it through the ancestral powers that God gave us, which is the reason for this year’s spiritual festival.
“We want to make sure we spiritually fortify all the states in the country against calamities where Ijaws are living, using Bayelsa State which is the venue of the festival as the point of contact.”
Our correspondent reports that all the traditional priests and fathers of Ijaw land will be present to offer prayers and sacrifices for the spiritual protection of the Ijaws.
