The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on some part of the Eastern Nigeria to stop the practice of the ‘Osu Caste system’, saying it is a violation of human rights.
The Executive Secretary NHRC, Tony Ojukwu Esq. stated this during a scene on a movie series ‘Silent Prejudice’ by Pillars of Hope Africa Initiative (POHAI) at the weekend in Abuja.
He said: “Osu” Caste system is a system that considers some as free-born and others as slaves. Adding that the system prohibits the free association between the ‘free-born and the slaves. “It does not allow marriages, or the use of same markets, schools or association amongst them in any way.
“It is therefore degrading and accordingly, the Commission thereby declares that Osu caste system is violation of human rights and therefore illegal,” he stated.
Continuing he said “any person who continues such act, has violated the human rights of the citizens. “The Osu caste system is therefore declared null and void and unconditional. As any such practices are considered a violation of human rights and such people should not go unpunished henceforth”.
He further called on those communities still practicing such, POHAI, and the citizens who are alleged to be called OSU to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), that henceforth, they will not indulge in the inhuman and degrading cast system.
According to the Producer /Director of Silent’ Prejudice’ Mr. Chris Oge- Kalu, the aim of POHAI is to abolish such barbaric practices from the society. .
Kalu said, the scene was a public hearing on the Osu caste system which involves NHRC because the issue being treated in the movie has to do with the abuse of human rights and is a system still practiced in the South- East.
“The issue is a human rights issue and a lot of people shy away from it and pretend that the issue is not there.
People don’t want to talk about it, that is why we took the initiative to come to NHRC for we reasoned that by collaborating with the commission, we will pull the bull by the horn.
“What we are doing is an advocacy because the evil that this Osu system presents is too much to bear” he stated.
Adding, he said that the Osu victims are seen as unequal to others and that people should not go near to them and that some believe that they have body odour and all sorts of things.
Those in the caste incude Femi Fani- Kayode former Minister of Aviation and Sen. Dino Melaye.
Also in the cast was Dan Nwanyawu former presidential candidate who acted as Chief Odumegwu.
