Auchi Cemetery Sanitation Records Low Turnout, Indigenes Blame Harmattan, Poor Information Dissemination

Auchi Cemetery Sanitation Records Low Turnout, Indigenes Blame Harmattan, Poor Information Dissemination

By: Jeremiah Enaholo Kadiri

myAuchi.blogspot.com

jeremiahkadiri@gmail.com

 

The people of Auchi Sacred Kingdom have carried out sanitation of the cemetery on Sunday the 5th of January, 2020.

Despite the cold harmattan and haze, some indigenes of Auchi trooped out in their numbers to clear grasses off the cemetery ahead of the oncoming Auchi Day year 2020 celebration.

jeyKAD  gathered that though the Auchi Day Celebration may have informed the decision to sanitize the final home of all, majority of the people who came with cutlasses, hoes, spades and even food items did so for the spiritual benefits/rewards inherent in such actions. 

front view of the new look of former Auchi Central Masjid

front view of the new look of former Auchi Central Masjid

“Sooner or later, this bury ground that we are clearing today will be the place that we will be brought back to and so the need to always keep it clean matters a lot. I’m not really here because of the activities of  Auchi Day because we have always carved out times for this activity. I am here to earn Allah’s mercy by making sure that our final rest place is cleared off not only grasses but things that could cause harm to the living. May Allah look down on everyone that made it to this place to offer one service or the other despite the poor communication of information. I pray that we the people of Auchi Sacred Kingdom as well as the foreigners living with us will continue to enjoy the benefits of peaceful coexistence.” Said an indigene who preferred anonymity.

The VC of Azomode Age Group, Abdulmalik Hafiz expressed joy over the fact that he heard about the event though late and was able to make it there in time to join others in carrying out the Godly work. He explained that activities like this in the past were done with elation and zest.

Otaru taking the 1st kick at Ikelebe Sports' Arena

“Once upon a time, when we hear that the cemetery will be cleared, it was a thing of joy and when you come here you will realize that it is almost as if everyone has left home but today is different. In fact I’m surprised that at this time we are still here. Before, when you leave home by 7pm with the intention of coming here, you’d come and see that the whole place has been cut down and a lot of persons may have retired home. Again, I feel it’s because of the harmattan. The Auchi that I come from honor invitations to sanitations especially when the cemetery is concerned.” He said.

While some blamed the poor turnout on the cold and haze associated with the season of harmattan, others blamed the poor turnout on poor information dissemination.

However, the purpose of the exercise which was to ensure that the cemetery was kept clean and rid off harmful elements that could portend danger was achieved.

Various sanitation exercises have also ensued on major roads and streets to ensure that the fastest developing cosmopolitan town in West Africa wears a sparkling clean look before, during and after Auchi Day. Other pre-Auchi Day activities include the current renovation of the former Central Masjid and the ongoing Auchi Day Football Championship Competition.