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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The people of Amurie Omanze in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State have agreed to abolish the Osu, Ohu, Ume and Diala caste systems in the community in January, 2024.
The Eze Udo II of Amurie Omanze, His Royal Highness, Eze C.O Nnajiemere, disclosed this while addressing his subjects recently, noted that the squashing of the archaic practice was facilitated by the Pillars of Hope Initiative (POHAI), National Human Rights Commission, Ga’nairu Family Foundation (GFF) and Kemdi Chino Opara Foundation KCOF due to their persistent campaign.
In a statement by POHAI Executive Director, Chinyere Oge-Kalu, yesterday, Eze Nnajiemere lamented that for the past three years, the community had been dragged into unnecessary conflicts on whether to abrogate discriminatory cultural inhibitions.
He, also, recalled that the community on their own in August 14th, 2020 at his Palace of Peace initiated, constituted and inaugurated an Abolition Committee in conjunction with the Eze-in-council ably led by Chief Nze Obinna Greg Madu of the blessed memory who was as at then the cabinet chairman.
The monarch pointed out that the decision was taken in agreement with the village heads, kindred chairmen and their executives, Town Union Exco members, Ndi Nze na Ozo, Town Union women wing, all the religious heads/clergy in the community, Youth wing of all the villages in Amurie Omanze, and diaspora union representatives.
He added that the members of the Committee were previously drawn as three (3) persons from each of the five(5) villages in Amurie Omanze which included Oboro and Boniface Osunwa (Bontec) from Ndiuhu was made the Chairman while Comrade Charles Chukwu from Amaeze was appointed to be the Secretary.
“However, an originating document detailing the decisions of the Eze, Eze-in-council, Ndi Nze na Ozo, the President General (PG) and the village heads in agreement to abrogate, abolish the obnoxious caste system which they described as very reprehensible, barbaric and absurd as well as the terms of reference to the Committee was duly signed by all concerned.
“The Committee went into full action with groups, individuals and village to village consultation/awareness Campaign, prompting them to painstakingly make a comprehensive, well detailed and articulate report to the Palace and also made recommendations on the need for the community to adopt the recommendation for the abolition” he said.
The traditional ruler observed that the recommendations which he said was still available went through scrutiny and review by the Palace and was unanimously passed and adopted as a working document and thereon they directed the committee to proceed with the document as their working tool.
Also, Boniface Osunwa, said it was on the strength of this that Eze Nnajiemere publicly pronounced that henceforth all forms of caste System will have to be totally abrogated and thereby leaving the community free of any of such practices and stigma associated with that.
In her response, POHAI’s Oge Kalu, said: “the POHAI, NHRC, Ga’nairu Family Foundation (GFF) and KCOF have also had the privileges of conducting interviews with Eze Udo II, PG and the Abolition Committee at the palace.
“The radio/social media jingle for the event has been produced by POHAI.”
