Traditional rulers across Igboland are in Anambra state to abolish the age-long practice of Osu and other caste system in the region, IgbereTv reports.
Converged in the state are rulers from Agwukwu Nri, Anaocha council of Anambra, Etche and Ikwere of Rivers state.
Also other traditional title holders including prominent leaders in Igbo land will be present to witness the end of the practice which has discriminated the Osu (outcast), ‘Ohu’ (slave) and ‘Ume’ (incestophile)
The Osu caste system is a practice in Igbo society where some people are tagged second-class citizens because they were believed to have been dedicated to some deity.
Also, the Osu person is forbidden from engaging in marital or business relationships with a freeborn including taking traditional title.
Speaking to IgbereTv reporters on the preparation, the personal assistant to the Nri regent, Prince Ifeanyi Onyeso, said the pronouncement to abolish the caste systems would be made at a special Nri royal monument for treasure custody known as ‘Ikpo Eze-Nri’.
Onyeso, who is also the spokesperson for the organisers said certain punishments would also be pronounced on the Nri throne against individuals or groups that go contrary to the pronouncement.
“Whoever that calls anybody Osu or practices the Osu caste system will be visited with punishment. Only an Nri man can come and carry out any cleansing of an abomination before the curse that befalls such person can be removed,” Onyeso said.
However, contrary to the agreement of the traditional rulers, the Adama chief priest of Nri, Amobi Nduka, said the preparations did not follow the tradition of the land.
Nduka urged all sons and daughters of Igbo land to “ignore the nugatory proclamation.” He said while he and the Eze Nri had never been in support of the discriminatory practice, revocation of such must follow due process and executed by the relevant authority
Adama said in a statement: “Such a nugatory proclamation should be ignored. He who is imbued with ‘nso’ cannot abrogate nor revoke ‘nso ana’. Abrogatee cannot in pari passu be an abrogator.
