By Chukwudi Ebele
The President General, PG, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders’ Association, ASMATA, Chief Hon. Humphrey Anuna, has dismissed with the wave of the hand, speculation in some quarters that Ozo title is fetish and diabolic.
He described as false and unfounded the belief by those he said were not properly informed on their origin that Ozo is idol worship stating that it is a figment of their own imagination that Ozo title is diabolic.
The ASMATA PG made this disclosure weekend when he stormed Chief Bobfrancis Nzekwe’s residence at Eziowelle, Idemili North Local Government Area, in company of some of his executives for the conferment of Ozo title on Bobfrancis, his son, sibling and cousin at Akuabata Nzekwesi family.
He commended those conferred Ozo title holders for attaining this height stating that, “Being an Ozo title holder shows that you will avoid any evil deed and stop telling lies, since Ozo title holders are people known for truth.
“From now you will be living an exemplary life worthy of emulation that promotes Igbo culture. You should disassociate yourselves from evil men both in their community or anywhere you find yourselves” he advised.
In his own speech, Comrade Chiedozie Christopher Ezeigwe, Aguata Zonal Chairman and Chairman of all Zonal chairman, congratulated the Nzekwesi family and advised them to maintain peace and harmony in their life, even as he prayed God to protect and guide the family.
One of the conferred Ozo title holders who is the contractor on installation of CCTV cameras in all markets in the state, Chief Chukwudozie Bobfrancis Nzekwe, said that, “I have already been initiated into Ozo title because when my father was alive, he was conferred, ‘Ora Nwezueaku,’ he initiated his children which I am one of them.
“So now that my father is late, that is the reason I want to retain that title, ‘Oranwezueaku.’ In Igbo land, Ozo title is not a secret society and not a fraternity, is an organisation that helps the needy and community too. When you are being conferred with Ozo title people will come, dine and wine with you. In turn too we benefit from someone who wants to take Ozo title.
“I am conferred the title with my family, My immediate younger brother, Chief Toochukwu Paul Nzekwesi, as Akubu Uto Uwa, my son Chief Chiziterem David Nzekwesi as Akuabata 1 na Eziowerri, my cousin, Chief Williy Chimezie Nzekwesi as Ezechukwukwesili and myself Chief Chukwudozie Bobfrancis as Oranwezueaku the second in Eziowelle,” he hinted.
“When you take the title the people in your community treasure the Ozo title and the impact is that the ozo title holders will be assisting people in our community. Many have already benefited food items, money and other things from us, I will continue from where my father stopped,” he assured.
On Igbo culture he said, “culture per say, is not idolatry, or idol worship, Ozo in Igbo land means to speak the truth, we will not join hands with evil if it were to be evil and celebrate the idol festival. I will only caution that our culture and heritage is not idolatory. I will be telling people to abstain from idol worship and face the reality which is our own Igbo way of life.
On how to reconcile his profession with Ozo title he said, “Ozo title has nothing to do with my business, I will still do my business and if anyone wants to be initiated into Ozo title and invited me, he will schedule time to do it, and if I am opportune I will attend and celebrate with the person. I will do my business and make sure my family is up and doing.
“I don’t celebrate anything called Iwa ji, is idolatory, in olden days the original name is Iro Mmuo, I am advocate of telling people not to be involve in such celebration because it kills when you go into idolatory.
“God said don’t worship any other god accept me, I will tell my people in my village to abstain from evil and live by truth. Iwa ji is idolatory because in the olden days if you want to celebrate Iro Mmuo people that have Chi Uwa, Aro binagu and all those things, will hold it for the person.
“Whenever you bring like cow or goat you will kill it and spray the blood on that Chi, that means you are worshipping that idol and that goat or cow you killed is for that celebration of Chi Uwa or Aro binagu, and in the olden days, the church people would come because they were gullible and they now baptise it Iwa ji,” he further explained.
Mrs Ukamaka Linda Nzekwesi, wife of Chief Bobfrancis Nzekwesi, said, “I feel great for the Ozo title is a great achievement and I am very grateful to God for such a privilege. It means a lot, it is a prestigious title and an elegant one, it is a great thing to my family to attain such height, I thank all the Ozo title holders that attended the function.
“I am called Osodieme, that’s why I am with him in every step he takes, I will be doing my best to help as much as I can. I am so opportune and glory be to God for the youngest Ozo in Nzekwesi’s family, I am so privileged and very much delighted for such an honour,” she stated.