OSU CASTE SYSTEM IS WAXING STRONG IN NIGERIA AND THE TIME HAS COME TO CONFRONT, COMBAT AND DEFEAT IT

CONFRONTING THE OSU PROBLEM IN NIGERIA.

By Leo Igwe

In Igboland, human beings were born equal in dignity and right. People lived and interacted with one another in the spirit of brotherhood. Everybody was free to reside and relate with others without discrimination. There were no outcasts. There were no untouchables. Nobody lived in a state of permanent social disability. The Igbo society was a casteless society.
 But some centuries ago, things changed. The caste system was introduced. And since then, human rights, dignity and respectability have not been the same again especially for those who belong to the Osu caste. No one knows exactly when this leprous system started.

Nigerian government needs to recognize the existence and rights of 'religious' minorities

The case brought against Shehu Sani by Islamic jihadists over his book, Phantom Crescent, has a lot of implications for human rights, democracy and civilization in Nigeria.

On October 9 (yesterday) a court in Kaduna-Northern Nigeria heard a case brought against Shehu Sani- a well-known human rights activist, social critic and author.
Mr. Sani-a practicing Muslim- was sued by a group called Concerned Sharia Forum over a play- Phantom Crescent- he wrote exposing the abuses and double standards by those implementing Sharia law in 12 states in Northern Nigeria.

You can tell a lot about a political or religious faction by its leaders. That is why it is so interesting, and concerning, that the rightwing Episcopalians that are busy breaking away from the American church are joining the Anglican faction led by Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria.  

Indeed, Akinola may soon be better known as a notorious persecutor of gays and lesbians than for his role in fomenting schism in the Episcopal Church in the U.S.  He is a prominent advocate for a bill that The New York Times recently called a "poisonous piece of legislation" that would criminalize all "amorous" same sex relationships and ban political organizing on behalf of gay rights: all subject to 5 years imprisonment. One probable side effect would be to undermine efforts to curb the spread of AIDS.

I wasn't aware that Nigerian courts had ordered Royal Dutch Shell to compensate ethnic Ijaws in the Niger Delta, but they had. And Monday, Shell deliberately missed their deadline, choosing instead to withhold payment pending review by an appellate court.

(Photo The New York Times)