Why Igbo pursue wealth from cradle - Uzuko Ozo Ndigbo

As Ndigbo and indeed Nigerians continue to grope in the search for good leadership, integrity and honesty in governance, the Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo, a society of Ozo title holders in Igbo land, has said that it has a solution to the leadership failures in the present time.

They said that the solution is for a return to the traditional leadership mentorship through Ozo title taking which prepares men for leadership in the society.

Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo made the advocacy when it met with Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, headed by Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi and presented a detailed lecture about Ozo title taking in Igbo land, its significance and role in the Igbo society.

The National President of Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo, Prof. Ike Oluka noted that the Ozo title taking is the highest leadership incubator in Igbo land which if harvested properly will give Ndigbo, Nigeria and the world a trusted leader with strong character that would be leveraged upon for trusted good governance.

Oluka attributed the present leadership and societal maladies to the abandonment of Ozo title taking, which started with the coming of the colonialists after which the decline in the society ethos set in and “Things began to Fall Apart.”

According to Oluka, one of the prerequisites for becoming an Ozo in Igbo land is that the holder must be self-sufficient, self-reliant, so as not to be swayed easily to the control of the richer persons.

“This explains the reason it is innate in every Igbo to pursue wealth from the cradle so as to become an Ozo and not be controlled by the whims and caprices of the rich. Therefore an Ozo title holder must be self-sufficient,” Oluka lectured.

Oluka stated that traditionally, it was the Ozo title holders that crown the Igwe or the Eze since the introduction of the Igbo central leadership by the white men.

“An Ozo does not tell lies, he is a sacred and unique leader. In the native Igbo land it's the Ozo that crown the traditional ruler. Ozo has a socio-cultural, economic model, he cannot be a thief and must be self-reliant. Self-sufficiency is a signature trait of an Ozo title holder. 

“These were before the advent of the white man who declined the role of Ndiozo. That was among the reasons that China Achebe wrote ‘Things Fall Apart,’ and all manner of consequences such as Yahoo, money ritual and all sorts of criminality started taking place which have today become the society’s social maladies,” Oluka stated.

He said that an Ozo is a Priest of the Igbo traditional belief system just like priests in other faiths, performs religious and leadership functions; a traditionalist, community leader, a custodian of his community’s/Igbo culture and tradition.

An Ozo holds the Offo, symbolizing authority, justice & power to govern or lead a people in truth and righteousness.

As a noble man, he must display humility in nobility in private and public affairs.

"An Ozo demonstrates humility in nobility, uphold and profess truthfulness and honesty in private & public life. He demonstrates readiness and capacity to endure pain/suffering in priestly roles & leadership of his community/country.

"Above all, he demonstrates valour, bravery & courage to defend the faith and Country. He is seen as a sacred and unique leader and an icon worth the values of nine persons of the non-initiates. Hence, he is required to take nine new names at initiation."

Oluka also noted that it was in efforts to restore lost values in Igbo land that brought about the formation of many groups such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, including Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo.

 He lectured that the culmination of the changes in the society, the changes in tradition, resulted in the 'Japa' syndrome (fleeing for greener pastures abroad) after the desecration of traditional society.

“Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo is rooted in culture, believes in restoring the socio-cultural order,” Oluka emphasized, noting that even the Othman and British empires all have their belief systems such as Christianity which was imposed on Africa at colonization.

“Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo provides the moral base that will rescue our lost classical past,” Oluka pledged.

He stated that class elitism is inherent in Ndigbo because Onye Ozo or an Ozo title holder is distinguished and finds it difficult to mingle with the low morality class.

“Our goals are include providing the intellectual base to promote Igbo culture, brotherhood and good citizenship in Igbo land,” clarifying that there is nothing like ‘Ozo Ndiuka’ (Ozos exclusive to Christians alone), but that an Ozor can be a Christian, a traditional African worshipper or belong to any other region.

Responding after the presentation of the lecture, the President of Igbo Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Amucheazi approved for the dissemination of the message in all segments of the Igbo society, particularly among the youths.

“This message should be disseminated. It's an important message, how can we correct what has fallen apart? By 1929, the Igbo women had revolted and that was the end of the warrant Chief system. Zik (Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe) came back ten yes after the British hegemony. He faced segregation in America and almost committed suicide. Now everybody is as Igwe, how did we deviate from Ozorship to Igweship, because then you can't tell lies,” Amucheazi said.

He acknowledged that the Igbo Leaders of Thought has a role to perform in the effort for the restoration of moral compass and encouraged the Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo to continue the campaign and pledged support for the dissemination of the campaign for more Igbo to take Ozo titles.

Amucheazi lamented that in some Igbo communities, Ozoship has been monetized and attributed the decline of the Igbo ethos to the invasion of the colonial masters, whom he said were on a mission to survive. He made reminiscence on the travails of Ndigbo in Nigeria and encouraged Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo to keep on the campaign. 

A prominent member of Igbo Leaders of Thought, member of Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo and the Prince of Nri ancient kingdom, Prince Emeka Onyensoh challenged both groups to wade into the issue of trying to emasculate Ndigbo into becoming subservient to other ethnicities in Nigeria by try to form the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council.

He asked all Igbo organizations to form a common opinion on how not to make Igbo slaves to any group or persons in Nigeria 

“Ndigbo need to begin character building for selection of the Igbo of distinct characters that cannot be bought over or chicken out of the Igbo ethos,” Onyensoh proposed.

The Secretary General of Igbo Leaders of Though, Prof. Jerry Ugwuokolo said the two groups will meet again to fashion the way forward for continuation of the campaign.