ANIOCHA-OSHIMILI CHAIRMEN: APPROVE MONTHLY TOKEN FOR YOUR OMU
- Emeka Esogbue
The time is here and now for the Aniocha North and South and Oshimili North and South Councils to pay the Omu token on monthly basis. With the campaign for votes, they move to Omu Anioma palace because they understand the role and influence of Omuship within the Enuani society but when elections have come and gone, they soon forget where they started.
Times have since changed and the government should recognize that the Omu should be catered for. We have a tradition, a woman leaves her husband and occupation because Omuship has called, a palace is built for her, with a retinue of domestic staff to cater for, and she takes up societal responsibility for her people's over all wellbeing.
She was formally in charge of markets within her vicinity but with foreign invasion by colonialists, she became stripped of this headship with the local government put in charge. The same council collects the revenues due to the Omu. Some monarchs in some communities also want to head markets. Now, the question is on what should the Omu survive? Stripping the monarchs of sovereignty meant paying them allowances by the government but this was not so for the Enuani Omu. The people must correct it.
No one stands the sight of his mother, going begging in the streets while wearing royalty. What is royalty in hunger after all? The Chairpersons of the four Enuani Councils should decide on the token to pay the Omu. The local funds are not for a few. We have seen situations people who do not work directly with councils get enrolled on council pay lists in Nigeria. Who says the Omu cannot be accommodated? When she is sick, who does she go to?
The Omu of Okpanam/Anioma has introduced dynamism in Omuship and we can see the Omu today, not only as the pride of the Anioma woman but a vehicle of change and cultural spread of the Anioma people. However, they must be paid on monthly basis to ensure the survival of the occupant and the tradition of the people. Our culture is not bad and as we know, culture is dynamic and already, the Omuship of the Anioma people is proving it so.
The Council should accommodate the Omu in their pay list.
See the full text of HRM Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu, the Omu of Okpanam/Anioma below:
There are things we have to know. When you become an Omu, you can't marry or live with a man anymore. You get your livelihood from the markets and homage from your people. Bear in mind that Omus in the past were elderly whose needs were minimal. The Local Governments are in the Markets. The Town doesn't pay homages. A few Traditional Rulers want to control the markets. Now, we are living in modern times, the Omu is younger and has needs. Yet she has responsibilities that require financial resources. So, how does she exist? What about food, medicine, general care? Who builds her a Palace since she needs to return to her father's home to reign? Then you bring a woman who has lived in America for almost four decades and abandons her "To your Tents, Oh Isreal". The only exception is Omu Ahaba. The Asagba and good people of Asaba made provision for her to take care of herself. I met about five or six Omus when I became Omu. Two are remaining from that era. Through advocacy by our Great Anioma Historian Emeka Esogbue, Anioma Association USA, Prof E A C Nwanze, late Prof Onwuejiogwu, Dr. Ikechukwu Enwenwa, Comrade Patrick Nweike Ochei, my humble person, etc, we have over Ten Omus today. We had about fifteen but five have finished their earthly journey. I was Ozaomu (Deputy Omu) for three years and substantive Omu for 19 years. So I have done the work of Omu in Okpanam for over 22 years and Omu Anioma for over 10 years at my own cost, using resources I got when I was a business person. I have not received a kobo from Okpanam or Anioma. What I am doing is a physical manifestation of a Spiritual conclusion and my passion. Many Omus are still living in their father's house unable to feed or get proper medical attention. How can Communities crown Omus and abandon them to their faith? Therefore, it is a little bit unfair to criticize Omu Ogwashi without solving the fundamental issues of CARE. I appreciate your concern but issues surrounding the neglect of Omus must be addressed, particularly, those coming back from Overseas after living abroad for decades.
The text was a response to an Anioma culture enthusiast and author of compendiums on Anioma famous people, Mr. Fada Enwenji from Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.
Fada Enwenji. There are things we have to know. When you become an Omu, you can't marry or live with a man anymore. You get your livelihood from the markets and homage from your people. Bear in mind that Omus in the past were elderly whose needs were minimal. The Local Governments are in the Markets. The Town doesn't pay homages. A few Traditional Rulers want to control the markets. Now, we are living in modern times, the Omu is younger and has needs. Yet she has responsibilities that require financial resources. So, how does she exist? What about food, medicine, general care? Who builds her a Palace since she needs to return to her father's home to reign? Then you bring a woman who has lived in America for almost four decades and abandons her "To your Tents, Oh Isreal". The only exception is Omu Ahaba. The Asagba and good people of Asaba made provision for her to take care of herself. I met about five or six Omus when I became Omu. Two are remaining from that era. Through advocacy by our Great Anioma Historian Emeka Esogbue, Anioma Association USA, Prof E A C Nwanze, late Prof Onwuejiogwu, Dr. Ikechukwu Enwenwa, Comrade Patrick Nweike Ochei, my humble person, etc, we have over Ten Omus today. We had about fifteen but five have finished their earthly journey. I was Ozaomu (Deputy Omu) for three years and substantive Omu for 19 years. So I have done the work of Omu in Okpanam for over 22 years and Omu Anioma for over 10 years at my own cost, using resources I got when I was a business person. I have not received a kobo from Okpanam or Anioma. What I am doing is a physical manifestation of a Spiritual conclusion and my passion. Many Omus are still living in their father's house unable to feed or get proper medical attention. How can Communities crown Omus and abandon them to their faith? Therefore, it is a little bit unfair to criticize Omu Ogwashi without solving the fundamental issues of CARE. I appreciate your concern but issues surrounding the neglect of Omus must be addressed, particularly, those coming back from Overseas after living abroad for decades.
Emeka Esogbue is the winner of Patriot Award in recognition of contributions of research and literature to the Anioma People, Anioma Association Inc., Georgia Chapter
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