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By Brown Chimezie
The Eze Udo Eti-Osa council, Lagos State, Gerald Onuchukwu Gerico, has declared that the purpose of establishing ezeship in the Diaspora is to uphold Igbo culture and tradition.
He spoke when he inaugurated new members of his cabinet in Lagos.
They included Nwachukwu Udo (Ozurumba (1)), Aligwe Chidiebere (Ochi ora), Emere Doris Chikodi (Akwaugo) Akwara Chukwuemeka Okoronkwo (Ohayerem) Okere Goodluck Blessing (Omeaoha1) Aruwmunal John (Onuobi 1) Livy Ebirilem Amaechi (Obuta Obie1) Lawrence Chidiebere Ozuzu (Onodi Ugo 1)
According to him, “culture and tradition (Omenala) is a generic term for the body of Igbo socio-religious laws and customs handed down to our ancestors by God, preserved over so many years and passed from one generations to another, We are committed to preserve this and possibly maintain the unbroken chain of transfer.
“A good percentage age of Igbo youths was born and bred outside Igboland. The remaining have abandoned the cause of tradition and culture for the quest for education and wealth in the urban centres.
“A the custodian of culture, Igbo must have a rethink and stand up to our duties and make our tradition and culture a source of profession and employment so that our youths will take part in order to effect the orchestrated transfer of it to the next generation.
“Our goal is to also let them know the prevailing uncertainty on how ready this present generation is to preserve this culture and possibly maintain the unbroken chain of transfer is a cause for worry. Some of our people are beginning to throw their traditional names into the dustbin to embrace America and English names the meaning of which they know nothing about.
If this trend is not quickly nipped in the bud, it will see lgbo names becoming history and Ndigbo will be going by names John Peter and Henry Emmanuel,” he warned.
