Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe has called for a war to abolish the Osu Caste system in Igboland. According to the monarch, the practice is antiquated, unlawful and obnoxious.
He made this known while speaking at a workshop on Thursday in Awka, Anambra State, organised by the Initiative for the Eradication of Traditional and Cultural Stigmatisation in Our Society
He said, “There is the need for people from all parts of Igbo land to come together and agree that this obnoxious cultural practice, which our fore fathers introduced, no longer have effect on us and our children. We are happy with the coming of IFETACSIOS group on this project and we are going to collaborate with them to ensure we end this bad culture that has held our people backward for many years now”
The President of IFETACSIOS, Oge Maduagwu, said “In Igbo land, it is very sad to note that a young man and young lady might be courting, but the moment either of the two discovers that the other is an osu, he or she will opt out of the relationship.”
According to her, efforts are being made by the group to abolish the practice in Imo and Enugu states. Maduagwu disclosed that the group has plans to visit Ebonyi and Abia before the end of 2018, saying, “The big dream of IFETACSIOS is the coming together of all the eastern states of Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Abia to sign an accord on the abolition of Osu caste system one day.”
