Amurie Omanze, a historic community in the Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, has expressed its intention to break away from certain traditional practices.
The community has earmarked Thursday, January 4, 2024, as the date for what they term the historic abolition of all forms of objectionable cultural practices.
These practices include the OSU, Ohu, Ume, and Diala caste systems that pervade the entire community and its surroundings. His Royal Highness, Eze C.O Nnajiemere, (Eze Udo II of Amurie Omanze), disclosed this while addressing his subjects in his Palace on Friday.
Eze Nnajiemere expressed his regret that for the past three years, the community has been embroiled in unnecessary conflicts and skirmishes over whether to abolish these discriminatory cultural restrictions. He described these practices as a relic of a bygone era, a form of man's inhumanity to man, and an affront to the 21st-century global social revolution order.
He also recalled that on August 14th, 2020, at his Palace of Peace, the community independently initiated, constituted, and inaugurated an Abolition Committee in conjunction with the Eze-in-council. The committee was ably led by Chief Nze Obinna Greg Madu, who was then the cabinet chairman.
Eze Nnajiemere highlighted that the decision was taken in complete agreement with all the village Heads, kindred chairmen and their executives, all the 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, Abroad union representatives and other dignitaries from the community. They all bore witness to this historic resolution.
He stated that they had all signed the abrogation document, which empowered the Committee to commence its task. He said, “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.
According to the Royal Father, “as of today, a date has been slated for the public pronouncement of the abrogation of the obnoxious caste system (Osu/Ume/Ohu/Diala). The abrogation event will take place 4th January, 2024.
“To be candid, the stipulation and eventual acceptance of a set date for the abrogation of all forms of caste system in Amurie is and still a mystery that only the spiritually minded can decipher.”