“I eagerly look forward to having an audience with Imo state Council of Traditional Rulers to enable me to share my experiences with our esteemed traditional rulers, as well as throw more light on the issues surrounding the tradition.
“I am willing to visit the communities and reason with the people toward the real abolition of Osu caste system,” he said.
Elemike said there was discrimination in the area of marriage, as the “Dialas” still forbid intermarriage with those regarded as “Osus”.
He added that intermarriage between the two sides was still largely seen as an abomination.
“Osu system was abolished in the then Eastern Region of Nigeria by ‘Abolition of the Osu System Law of 1956’.
“It is also contrary to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other extant laws and there are serious consequences for open practice of Osu tradition.
“The realities of modern life have brought people together in schools, markets, churches, hospitals, town unions and village meetings in the cities.
‘It is, therefore, impossible to brazenly discriminate against anyone as an Osu as was the case in the past.
“Many Igbos now see it as unjust, barbaric and idolatrous, but consider themselves trapped in it, and not knowing how to completely avoid it.
“The increasing close interaction between people on both sides has exposed the misconceptions that the tradition thrives on.
“More people have begun to realize that Osu is nothing, and exists only in the minds of people,” the IPCC chairman said.
Elemike said in spite of the efforts to stop the tradition, some people were still ‘living in bondage’, adding that it was the man-made bondage that the traditional rulers were being urged to discredit and stop.
He said inquiries were still made to ascertain the status of suitors and bride-to-be and the proposed marriage would be called off if one of the parties was from the wrong side.
The IPCC chairman added that some traditional rulers would not confer chieftaincy titles on certain persons, simply because they were called Osus.
Elemike said, the NGO is non-partisan organization that seeks to achieve a better society in Nigeria through positive cultural change, promotes traditions that are lawful and morally sound.”
He said IPCC also campaigns against obnoxious, anachronistic and unlawful cultural practice, including disinheritance of widows and female children and maltreatment of widows after the demise of their husbands.
Elemike also said, “We are also involved in the campaign against vices, like drug abuse, cultism, and human trafficking.
“The organization, through its various programs has consistently promoted love, peace, equal rights, justice and unity among members of the society.”
NAN
