Two lovers who have been tagged ‘Romeo and Juliet of Okija’, Anambra State have committed suicide by drinking a pesticide (snipper), because their parents refused to allow them marry as one of the lovers was an ‘Osu’ – a caste system predominant in the South – East and the other Ibo speaking parts of the country.
The couple dated for six years and could be rightly described as “Love Birds” but their dream of living together blissfully as husband and wife was denied them by the obnoxious “Osu” caste system.
Osu, according to Ibo culture; are people dedicated to deities of ancient Ibo nation. Their lineage are considered abomination and inferior and are usually discriminated against.
This tragedy also recalls a novel – “ No Longer At Ease” by Chinua Achebe in which Obi and Clara could not marry because Clara was an Osu. The parents of Obi, Mr and Mrs Okonkwo who were adept Christians apparently refused to give their blessings to the couple on account of the caste system.
See the suicide note:
“Racism in disguise…
How can we separate after 6 solid years of dating and getting so use to each other? how???
Is it a crime to be held from Okija Anambra state? We both are from Okija in Ihiala local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. We have always wanted to spend the rest of lives together, we’ve always planned our future together. We have always struggled to secure a better future, now that things are gradually turning around for us, they’re saying we can’t get married, all because of Osu and Ohu Caste, all because of an ancient belief that has been abolished in other villages. The people of Okija chose to live in the past, all as a result of ignorance. God created everyone equally so why would human beings discriminate just because of the ignorance of our forefathers? Why will we keep sufferering for what we know nothing about, for something we didn’t do??? Why do we still chose to stay in the dark? This is racism in disguise, yet we want to be treated equally in the white man’s land, charity they say begins at home.
We made up our minds to end it all because we can’t stay without each other. Ndi Okija, say No to Osu Caste!!!”
