The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has called for collective action to end violence against women and other vulnerable members of society.
The traditional ruler maintained that obsolete traditions and taboos should no longer shape societal behaviour, especially when they undermine the safety and dignity of women and at-risk groups.
Speaking on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Igwe Achebe explained that the Onitsha community has already put in place specific local guidelines aimed at protecting women and vulnerable individuals.
He said, “We are using culture to protect not only girls and women, but to protect everybody: the widows, the disabled, the down-and-out, and the unhealthy.
“It is about coming together within our community, the way we organize, and taking care of each other. We have our rules, regulations, and guidelines; when people act otherwise, the system calls them to order. It’s working for us.”
The monarch disclosed that the community has deliberately abandoned “certain elements that don’t make sense today” as part of efforts to reduce domestic violence and other harmful practices against women.
He added that the traditional council possesses the authority to implement such reforms and has built a strong structure focused on modernising the community.
“We have the authority within our traditional council to make those decisions. We have a very robust organization active in transforming our community to effectively bring it into the 21st century”, he added.
Igwe Achebe identified public enlightenment and adaptability as crucial factors for societies seeking to align with contemporary realities.
“Culture is the way of life of a people. As has just been said, culture has to be dynamic. People oftentimes misunderstand that dynamism, but it must be there because culture exists to serve the people,” the Obi of Onitsha said.
Reflecting on historical perspectives, he noted that earlier generations operated with limited understanding of the world.
“From ancient times, our ancestors’ worldview was very limited. The sun rising in the east and setting in the west was a mystery.
“Today, we know better. Certain health issues that were once seen as taboo are no longer viewed that way. So, first of all, it is about education to enlighten our people regarding the true core elements of our cultural traits”, he added.
