Ohaa Spokesperson Tackles Onyishi’s Customary Fallacy, Says Political Theatre Cannot Manufacture Ancestral Legitimacy.

 

The attention of the campaign of Sir Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa (Odalije) has been drawn to the recent public commentary by Dr. Reuben Onyishi concerning the conferment and significance of the Ofo Awkunanaw.

While we ordinarily would not dignify partisan arguments dressed in traditional language with a response, Dr. Onyishi’s attempt to reduce a deeply rooted cultural institution to the level of political theatre demands clarification.

Let it be stated clearly: political gatherings and sacred traditional rites are not the same thing. They should neither be deliberately conflated nor presented to the public as equivalent.

The Ofo, within Igbo traditional thought, carries profound cultural meanings associated with truth, justice, legitimacy, responsibility and ancestral continuity. It is therefore inappropriate to treat every ceremonial object presented at a political gathering as automatically possessing the same traditional significance as an Ofo conferred within the appropriate cultural setting and through recognized custodians.

This is the fundamental issue Dr. Onyishi appears unwilling to confront.

A political endorsement is a political endorsement. A traditional rite is a traditional rite. One cannot be transformed into the other merely by attaching traditional symbols to a political event.

Sir Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa did not approach the people of Awkunanaw merely as a politician seeking applause. His engagement with the traditional custodians and communities of Awkunanaw was rooted in respect for their heritage, identity and institutions.

The significance of the gathering at Ani Awkunanaw on the 19th should therefore be understood within its cultural context and not mischievously reduced to a political rally.

We also caution against the careless use of sacred traditions as instruments of partisan argument.

The Ofo is not a commodity. It is not something that becomes more or less legitimate because a politician receives it, nor is it a trophy to be counted, exhausted or distributed according to political calculations.

The attempt to introduce the biblical story of Jacob and Esau into this matter further demonstrates the danger of forcing unrelated narratives into an indigenous cultural institution. Igbo traditional values deserve to be discussed on their own terms and with the seriousness they command.

Our message to Dr. Onyishi and those sponsoring this needless controversy is simple:

No amount of political power can rewrite the history of a people. No amount of political patronage can manufacture ancestral legitimacy. And no political gathering can, by mere declaration, replace the authority of established cultural institutions.

We are not interested in competing over who can shout the loudest or organize the largest political crowd. What matters is the integrity of our traditions, the dignity of our people and the responsibility that comes with seeking their mandate.

Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa respects the people of Awkunanaw and holds their cultural heritage in high esteem. His interaction with the traditional custodians was therefore not an attempt to commercialize tradition but an expression of respect and acknowledgement of the enduring importance of the Ofo and the institutions surrounding it.

Those who seek to turn sacred cultural symbols into instruments of political propaganda should remember that tradition is bigger than politics, and the dignity of our ancestors is greater than any electoral contest.

The people of Awkunanaw are capable of distinguishing authentic cultural engagement from political theatre.

And ultimately, it is the people—not political propaganda—that will determine the future of Enugu State.

Signed:

Ude Jideofor Richard

Spokesperson/Media Aide to Sir Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa (Odalije)

NDC Governorship Candidate, Enugu State