By Dennis Agbo
AS Ndigbo continue to search for good leaders with integrity and honesty, the Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo, a prestigious society of Ozo title holders in Igbo land, has proposed what it believes will be a solution to the leadership challenges.
According to the group, the solution is for a return to the traditional leadership mentorship through the Ozo title-taking which prepares men for leadership in society.
Nzuko Ozo Ndigbo made the advocacy when a delegation met with Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, headed by Prof. Elochukwu Amucheazi, to brainstorm on leadership challenges.
The group presented a detailed paper on the Ozo title-taking in Igbo land, its significance, and role in the Igbo society.
Presenting the paper, 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 trusted leaders with strong character that would be leveraged upon for trusted good governance.
Oluka attributed the present leadership failure and societal maladies in Igbo land to the abandonment of Ozo title-taking, which he said started with the coming of the colonialists, after which the decline in the society’s 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 and self-reliant, so as not to be easily swayed by 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 said.
Oluka noted that traditionally, it was the Ozo title holders that crown the Igwe or the Eze in Igbo communities before the advent of the white man.
“An Ozo does not tell lies; he is a sacred and unique leader. In Igbo land, it is the Ozo that crowns 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 Ndi Ozo. That was among the reasons that Chinua Achebe wrote ‘Things Fall Apart,’ and all manner of consequences, such as Yahoo, money ritual, and all sorts of criminalities started taking place, which have today become the society’s social maladies.” Oluka lamented.
He said that an Ozo, as 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 culture and tradition. “An Ozo holds the Ofo, symbolizing authority, justice, and power to govern or lead a people in truth and righteousness,” he explained. As a nobleman, he must display humility in private and public affairs.
“An Ozo demonstrates humility in nobility, upholds, and professes truthfulness and honesty in private and public life.
He demonstrates readiness and capacity to endure pain/suffering in priestly roles and leadership of his community.
“Above all, he demonstrates valour, bravery, and 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 noted that the culmination of the changes in society, the changes in tradition, resulted in 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 during 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 an Onye Ozo or an Ozo title holder is distinguished and finds it difficult to mingle with the lower class.
“Our goals include providing the intellectual base to promote Igbo culture, brotherhood, and good citizenship in Igbo land,” clarifying that an Ozo can be a Christian, a traditional African worshipper, or any other religion.
Responding to the lecture, the President of Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Amucheazi, approved the dissemination of the message in all segments of the Igbo society, particularly among the youths.
“This message should be disseminated. It is an important message. How can we correct what has fallen apart? Now everybody is an Igwe, how did we deviate from Ozorship to Igweship, because then you can’t tell lies,” Amucheazi said.
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 reminisced 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 trying 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.
Article Igbo leaders advocate return to Ozo title-taking to re-establish integrity in leadership Live On NgGossips.
