The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Diocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna has called for an end to Osu caste system in Igbo land.
The clergy made this call on Friday at the Maria Asumpta Cathedral, Owerri when the leadership of the Freedom Advocacy Group paid him a courtesy visit.
The Catholic Archbishop said, “All men and women were created equal by God and in his own image. Christianity came around to abolish fetishism and all other forms of bondage and social discrimination. You have my support and blessing, one hundred percent”
According to the archbishop, Ogbakians (the dialas) are still in bondage, as long as they give credence to the fact that certain people were sacrificed for shield, protection and safety to the evil deities our fore-fathers worshipped.”
“The caste system is primitive and inhuman and must be abrogated. I commend the organisation for this initiative.
“I experienced the reality of “OSU” caste system in Igbo land when I was 13 years of age with my friend who was allegedly an outcast and I discovered there is nothing different between us. Since then, I became committed to the fight against it.
“In all sincerity, this is a fight no mortal can fight because it is a tough one. But with the help of Dinwelu Christi, we will win. It is one of my biggest dreams that this evil be wiped away from Igboland,” the archbishop prayed.
The cleric said that only honest and dogged efforts by all would challenge the inequalities and stigmatization associated with the caste system.
He urged them to reclaim what he described as their, “God-given dignity” and restore the freedom of the Igbo man through equity against the “unhealthy comparison and dehumanization.”
Speaking earlier on behalf of the group , Engr. Iyke Nnadi lamented that Osu caste system is a social evil, saying that the practice, has dehumanized people in his community, Obaku in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State.
Corroborating the position of Nnadi, Hon. Emma Meziem requested the archbishop to support the campaign for the abolition of the “Osu” caste system in Ogbaku.
In his own words, “we are unhappy that the demonic culture has persisted in Ogbaku, despite the increasing influence of Christian religion and has continued to ruin many families, as a result of discrimination against those branded “osu” by those who claim to be free born “(diala)”.
