She Took the Job for the Money and Lost Herself

By Uzo Ugwunze

The prestigious Ito-Ogbo Obosi festival reached its climax as Caster Diva Football Club from Inland town defeated Odume Obosi Urban Football Club 1 - 0 to lift the maiden Ito-Ogbo Football Competition trophy on Monday.

Speaking at the Afor-Adike Stadium in Obosi, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State, the President-General of Obosi Development Union, Barrister Chimezie Obi, who described the Ito-Ogbo festival as the biggest event celebrated by his community, said that sports could be used to engage youths as a means of livelihood.

"This year, we decided to add a carnival, beauty pageant, and sports to spice up the Ito-Ogbo/Octogenarians' mass birthday/festival of longevity.

"Today, we played the finals, which saw Caster Diva FC from Obosi Inland Town win the football competition trophy.

"Youths should stay crime-free, look for something useful you can engage yourself in. If you can play football, do it well; there are people who can sponsor you even to Europe," Obi said.

According to the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Hyman Udemba (Akamposi Obosi), the youths should be engaged in sports. Sports is the easiest way to engage youths.

 

"I urge both individuals, institutions, and the government to invest more in different kinds of sports. Youths who are not academically endowed should learn a craft, trade, or go into sports," Chief Udemba said.

A Stakeholder for Peace in Obosi Community, Sir Lubra Okechukwu Ogbazi (Ezeakibeya Ugeju), described sports as a unifier and a strategy to divert the minds of youths from crime and criminality.

"Igwe Dubem Iweka of Obosi said we should engage our youths meaningfully and remove them from the streets. Sports is a unifier; both the winners and losers enjoyed the games.

"We can also pick the talented ones and help them go far in the game of football. Everyone will not be an academic; those talented in sports can succeed in life with sports. 

"During December Yuletide, we held an inter-village football competition sponsored by the Obosi indigenes living in the United Kingdom, and the Ito-Ogbo committee borrowed a leaf from that," Ezeakibeya said.

Moreover, Chairman of Obosi Youth, Comrade Tochukwu Obienu (Mbaaburodike), rated the 2024 Ito-Ogbo by Ofoka Age Grade as the best in recent times, saying that it was peaceful, colorful, full of entertainment, without killings and violence.

"I give kudos to the organizers of Ofoka Age Group Ito-Ogbo. Sporting events and Mmanwu/masquerade carnival have never taken place before during the Ito-Ogbo period.

 

"We are enjoying Obosi community at its fullest in a peaceful atmosphere. For the past 13 years, Obosi people could not come together and enjoy football like today's final on this field without fear of violence erupting.

"I am very happy that it was during my tenure as the youth leader that the major reconciliation between Igwe Chidubem Iweka and his brother, Mayor Omezie Chukwurah, which brought about the calmness Obosi community is enjoying today, happened.

"I also thank people like Sir Lubra Ogbazi, Ifeanyi Okenwa, Ogbuaku, among others, who helped us to contribute to the peace enjoyed in Obosi today without hassles or violence. Long Live Obosi Ukwala Kingdom," Obienu said.

However, the duo of CEO of Caster Diva Hotels, Sunny Epuna, and the Caster Diva FC skipper, Aloma Arinze, expressed their joy for eventually winning the football competition after the marathon and tedious football matches. 

"It has been a marathon exercise, but we are so happy that the best team won the tournament. Actually, Obosi has been portrayed in a bad light outside the community, but this competition brought together the old, middle-aged, and young together to have fun without fear or violence," Epuna said.