Imo State Govt, NHRC, Mbieri community renew campaign to abolish osu, ume diala caste system

By TONY EZIMAKOR, Abuja

The traditional rulers and members of the clergy in Mbieri community of Imo state, in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Imo State government, have renewed the call for the abrogation of age-long Osu, Ume, Ohu, and Diala Caste System practised in parts of Igbo land.

Recall that there has been a renewed agitation pioneered by NHRC, working with a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including Pillars of Hope Africa Initiative (POHAI), Kemdi Chino Opara Foundation, Marvico and Global Family Foundation (GFF), seeking the abrogation of the castes across communities in the South-East.

Chief Onyewuchi Asinobi, Chairman of the abrogation ceremony, in a statement issued in Abuja, described the Caste as an “ancient traditional religious practice anchored on evil altars and shrines controlled by principalities and powers, and by the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places”.

According to Chief Asinobi, some top clergies will on August 28, 2021, lead the seven concerned Mbieri communities on community and family liberation prayers and service to be held at Afor Nnudo Market Square, Umuagwu, Mbieri to end the dedications, covenants, sacrifices, idolatrous practices peculiar to obnoxious Caste practices.

He listed members of the clergy that will feature in the abrogation ceremony to include Arch Bishop A.V Obinna, the Metropolitan Catholic Bishop of Owerri, Bishop Chukwuma Opara, Anglican Bishop of Owerri Bishop Collins Chidi Oparajiaku, Anglican Bishop of Ohaji/Egbema, Bishop Innocent Erimujor, Healing the Nation Ministry Int, Bishop Ngozi Durueke, He Reigns Cathedral, Bishop Blaise C. Iwuogo, New Life Evangelical Church, Bishop Stanford Nworgu, Praise Centre Cathedral and Rev. Dr. Victor Isiodu, Balm of Gilead Ministries.

Dr. Asinobi said, “A typical proscription of OSU involved a traditional religious ritual where the DIALA community gathered at the village shrine, with the Chief Priest of the land presiding over the ritual. The OSU was tied, as the Chief Priest pronounced over his head, such curses that were supposed to come upon the land. A sacrifice was made on the community altar. And the OSU was dedicated to the deity that ruled over the shrine.

“It was believed that the OSU would bear any evil burden that was supposed to come upon the land and the people; whether sickness, disease or death. By virtue of the ritual, the OSU was regarded as one that was cursed, abominable, and untouchable. Hence he was ostracized.

“The UME was believed to have been cursed to die prematurely by the gods. Over the generations, it has been established however that the people tagged UME were simply individuals with a history of sickle cell in their family background.

“The OHU was of the slave class made up mostly of people used as collateral for debts and individuals sold by their kinsmen. A lot of the OHU were captured in battles, whereas some were drawn from the OSU class.”

Imo state governor, Sen Hope Uzodinma he said will lead the traditional rulers of the 7 autonomous communities of Mbieri: Umueze, Amaike, Awo, Osuji, Obazu, Ezi and Ihite to the abrogation ceremony. (Daily Independent)