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| saint obi |
As usual, I was hugely engaged, but very sadly, I lost my only surviving paternal uncle. Wow! End of an entire generation. Suddenly, I am the oldest male in my immediate family and you know what that means...responsibilities and more responsibilities. No “wahala,” God is in full control.
I will also like to commend you all that have written to me; your glowing comments are most appreciated. However, there was this mail that caught my attention. The writer berated me for saying that I eat “pomo and its delicious neighbours.”
My answer to the guy is, I am very real and not fake. Any food I decide to eat is out of choice, not necessity. If I want to demolish [sorry, savour] a dish in Hilton or a five-star hotel, all I need to do is, waka enter there and give myself a treat. Say I be star no be say I no be 9JA man. Stardom no reach for my people food or my tummy. In fact, my belly is proudly and unapologetically Nigerian. Period!
Something else caught my fancy, ONE TERM TENURE FOR THE EXECUTIVE arm of government, proposed by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
As a consummate and passionate observer of current affairs in Nigeria, I feel a sense of national duty to lend my voice to this raging issue.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should be applauded for such a courageous proposition, especially, knowing that he will not be a beneficiary to such legislation. Nigeria requires a paradigm shift urgently and Jonathan is keeping to his campaign promise of Transforming Nigeria for good.
Opposition parties have rushed to town with their usual Pull Down Syndrome. President Jonathan means well and in my view, he ought to be given a fair hearing.
The crux of this edition of STARK NAKED is the unfortunate racism going on in our back yard.
It is called the OSU CASTE SYNDROME.
I know how appalled most of us were at the apartheid regime of the then South African government. Nigerians made concerted efforts (human and material) in support of our fellow brothers and sisters; in far away South Africa.
I know so many musicians/ freedom fighters that went out of the business immediately Nelson Mandela was released; Sonny Okosun of blessed memory is a sparkling example.
As we fought racism and the release of Nelson Mandela, how many of us made any effort at fighting racism in our backyard or for our OSU brothers and sisters who have been in bondage for centuries?
There is an old saying, remove the speck in your eye before attempting to remove that in another person’s eye.
This senseless syndrome started centuries ago. Folklore describes them as a group of people in Igbo land, whose fore fathers were PURPORTEDLY used as sacrifices to the gods. Instantly, they became properties of the gods, untouchables, ostracised from regular society and treated as inferior beings.
I thought the gods [and anyone associated with it] are supposed to be revered and not reviled.
My fore fathers selfishly and insanely arrogated to themselves a cacophony and pitiable title: FREE-BORN.
Over the years, one question keeps bugging my soul; if my so-called free born fore fathers, out of non-exposure, illiteracy and ignorance, enjoyed this dance of shame, this stance of colossal stupidity, abuse, subjugation and marginalization of their brothers and sisters, what about you that exists in the 21st century; in this era of knowledge?
Most Igbo men and women interviewed say their silence or inaction is as a result of long held tradition... “If my fathers’ didn’t change the phenomenon, I will not dare it, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the gods?”
A statement in the year, 2011? Unbelievable!
This position is no longer tenable. Reasons:
· All taboos and negative myths against our OSU brothers and sisters have been found to be complete balderdash.
· My mean ancestors say the OSUs’ are inferior, but modernity has quashed that; Our OSU brothers and sisters are some of the most brilliant and educated Igbo people.
· Our caste brothers and sisters are extremely industrious and hardworking.
· Our brothers and sisters are some of the best looking species in the black race.
· They are very kind hearted and generous.
· Above all, our caste brothers and sisters found Jesus Christ (became born again; spoke in tongues) long before most of us, the so-called, free born.
Today, over 90 percent of Igbo people are Christians and if the Holy Bible teaches, “love thy neighbour as thyself,” the natural pertinent question is, have we the so called free born loved our OSU brothers and sisters as ourselves?
Why this inhumanity against fellow man?
Are we Christians because that is in vogue or are we truly followers and doers of HIS word?
Tradition is good, but senseless and baseless tradition must go!
If some communities could abolish the OHU (SLAVE) syndrome: by asking such slaves to perform some community rites, why can’t we borrow a leaf from that to end this scoreless scourge?
It must be stated here though that in recent times, there have been gradual, snail-speed, pretentious integration between the OSU and the so-called free born.
Sometimes, I can’t help laughing at our hypocrisy. Today , so-called free borns and our caste brothers, hang out together, eat together and even sleep with each other as boyfriend/ girlfriend, but when it comes to the main unifying platform -marriage, “the monstrous fang of discrimination rears its ugly head.”
In most parts of Igbo land, when a man/woman finds a bride/groom and informs his/her family, the first assignment both families do is send out local detectives to each other’s village.
Mission: investigate if the other party is of the OSU race.
SAD! VERY SAD!
Loads of efforts have been expended by many anti-OSU caste proponents in a bid to rid Igbo land of this crime against humanity. The usual response they get from so many Igbo people is, “if you want to end the OSU CASTE syndrome, go and take a wife from there or give out your daughter’s hand in marriage to someone from there.”
This scapegoat approach is certainly not an effective way of ending this ugly menace. (To be continued)
MEANS OF TOTAL ERADICATION OF OSU CASTE SYNDROME
After thorough research, we can confidently posit a solution.
If Igbo people could end the OHU syndrome, with Village Level Abolishment; same trajectory could be applied to deal a decisive blow on the OSU CASTE syndrome; surely, leading to its complete and permanent eradication.
At this communal level, where almost everyone is related, it becomes easy to accept and respect any decision/ law adopted by the community.
In other words, if someone marries into or from an OSU caste family, he or she will not be excommunicated.
If there are simple rites [with non-voodoo connection] to be performed as a way of appeasing the Amalas (die-hard village politicians), SO BE IT.
CONCLUSION
If we claim to be Heaven bound at death by virtue of being good Christians, most of us will be rudely shocked when we get to the gates of Heaven.
Let’s make peace with our OSU brother whose only crime is finding himself where he found himself.
Pause for a moment and reflect on this stark reality.
You could have been that OSU brother you discriminate against today.
You might scream NEVER but that my friend is the hard truth!
If you didn’t choose to come out through your mom and dad, then it’s obvious that you could have landed in that part of town you abhor today.
Therefore, why do we judge a fellow brother for something he knows nothing about?
Why judge a fellow Christian [filled with the Holy Spirit] when the Holy Bible says do not judge another lest you be judged?
Man’s inhumanity against fellow man will never go unpunished.
The large heartedness we exude to outsiders must start from within our shores.
Unlike most things in life that have advantages and disadvantages, abolishing the OSU Caste syndrome has no disadvantage or negativity.
Let’s harness the power, intelligence and resources of our brothers and sisters for the good of all.
Abolishment of OSU CASTE SYNDROME is attainable and sustainable.
The only constant thing in life is change.
Let’s put OSU Caste syndrome behind us.
Where there is a will, there’s always a way. You and I can do it!
Please, pass on this message. Lend your voice, if not your weight.
-courtesy Yes International
