Upholding Emekuku Traditional Norms …as Ozo Title Holders, Custodians of Culture, Others Gather To Evoke Spirits Against Evil Doers

Chinedu Max Egere…

A group of titled men of Ozo, traditional leaders and custodians of culture, majority of who are bonafide members of ‘Olu Ga Otu Oha Dibia’ had gathered last week in Emekuku,Owerri North local government area of Imo specifically to engage in traditional roles aimed at emphasising the traditional norms and regulations within Ezeogba Emekuku community.

The Ozo title holders, the traditional leaders and the custodians of culture who had come from the various parts of Owerri zone had met in unison to perform what is known in Igbo parlance as ‘Odinala Ikuchi Ofo’, a situation where they would exhibit their vital roles towards preserving, promoting and protecting the cultural heritage of Ezeogba Emekuku in line with the traditional values and beliefs of the community.

The titled men had reeled out their traditional authorities raising their voice that the deliberate defaulters of the various norms with their obnoxious and unacceptable practices clothed in immortality would face the wrath of the ancestors and the spirits since their immoral activities are capable of denigrating and defiling the sanctity of the traditions, culture and customs of the land of Ezeogba Emekuku community.

Among such evil acts include ritual murder, assassinations, financial fraud, kidnapping, land racketeering, obtaining by tricks, unauthorized sale and disposition of lands, rape, arson, violence and all the immoral actions like adoltery, incest, betrayals, gay practices, conspiracy, witchcraft, stealing.

The group of Ozo title holders and the custodians of culture had further declared that any man in Ezeogba Emekuku community that commits adultery with another man’s wife, be it his neighbour’s wife or tenant’s wife shall face the wrath of the ancestors. That any man that lies with his sister, daughter, female cousin, niece, his living father’s wife, or his aunt shall also face the wraths of the ancestors. Any man that lies with his fellow man, or his wife’s mother or with a beast shall as well face the wraths of the ancestors.

In the case of ‘nde nwanwa’ which are those whose maternal homes are in Ezeogba Emekuku, they shall avoid same immoral activities within their immediate localities hence Amoji or Umuezihu.
Their declarations also included offences like Internet fraud, stealing, robbery and also perversion of justice and undue tenure elongation among members of the leadership of Eze in council, village and Kindred councils.

Their declarations also included the attempts or acts of usurping of the duties of Onyeisi ala Ezeogba Emekuku or the acts of neglecting him to consult other traditional leaders in order to diminish his traditional powers or those of the ancestors to avoid the execution of the laws of the land shall face the same wrath.

According to the declarations, widows and widowers can only be excluded from the case if they have no hand in the death of their husbands or wives as the case may be.

The declarations were to take effect from the day the traditional exercise of the titled men took place which was on Saturday 11th of January,2025.

More so, any one who uses the operatives of the security agencies to unduly harass or intimidate his own kinsmen or the people of Ezeogba Emekuku shall also be seen as a defaulter.

It also involves all the sons and ‘Ngbotos’ of Ezeogba Emekuku who have deviated from uprighteousness by way of suppressing the truth or displaying bias in the course of their duties.

Those too who evoke the water spirit to cause harm to the people are not
excluded.

However,the Ozo title holders in their declarations went further saying that if any defaulter confesses his offence to the Onye Isi Ala Ezeogba ,he would be expected to do the needful by way of cleansing and atonements to set them free from the verdicts of the ancestors.

When contacted to make his comments on the event, Chief Dr. Sir Cosmas Onyeukwu, a US based Imo stakeholder, the Ozo Miri of Emekuku sressed the importance of upholding the traditional norms of Emekuku to avoid the dire consequences of its breaches.

Chief Dr. Onyeukwu, the Onye Isi Ala Ezeogba Emekuku called for a communal unity and cooperation so that in peace, the people will abide by the traditional and customary laws of the land which he maintained would pave way for prosperity and progress.

Among those present at the event include Duru Ozo Desmond Ugwana, the Akiri of Ngor Okpala and the Eziala Nguru who is the chairman of the Olu ga Otu Oha Dibia; Emeka Oguchia; Dr Sunny Amaechi; Chief Oriaku; Dibia Chiaka Nguru of Obibi Egbelu; Nwadibia Iyi Afor Ndubuisi; Okuru Okere of Naze; Emmanuel Mmanubuike, Nwamadioha of Ama Ibo Nguru Ngor Okpala and others from Uratta Owere.