The highly cerebral culture colossus and Omu Anioma, Her Royal Highness (HRM) Obi Dr. Martha Dunkwu, has called for a symbolic burial for the over two million Igbo men and women who lost their lives during the Nigerian civil war, as the solution to youth restiveness in the region.
The woman traditional, spiritual leader and mother without boarder, equally said that the over two million who died across Igboland whose corpses are still in the morgues should be given proper burial rites for peace to reign.
Obi Martha Dunkwu stated this at her palace in Oshimili north local area of Delta State, when a delegation from the diaspora visited the state to present a Global Icon Award for her contributions to the rich African heritage.
The Omu Anioma, translated as: ‘Mother of Anioma,’ advocated greater unity between the people of the southeast region and their Anioma relatives, while stressing that sons and daughters of Igboland should locate some of their investments in the motherland.
On the need for more political power for traditional rulers, the Omu urged the federal government to initiate the process of formalizing a greater role for traditional rulers in the constitution.
“So I am urging the federal government to put traditional rulers in the constitution, because when they were in charge of their villages when we did not have Nigeria, the villages were functioning.
“So let them give them a role in the constitution and hold them responsible.’ she said.
The Omu Anioma also dedicated a section of her palace in perpetuity to her Girls Foundation for the training of the girl child.
She said, “Because the girl child is an endangered specie. Endangered not because the number is going down. Endangered because she is used by the parent, she is used by her husband, she is used by her children.
“Society uses her political parties; she is the cooking member, she is the sweeping member, a dancing member, she is the voting member. And on voting day they vote for the men.
“That is why I set up this foundation for the education of the girl child. Because the number one thing that would save women from marginalization is education. Education is the universal key that opens all doors,” Omu emphasized.
Meanwhile, the leader of the delegation from the diaspora Mr. Kenneth Igbani, noted the Omu title was one of the oldest African cultures and Obi Martha Dunkwu has been a good ambassador of the traditional institution, thus the decision to recognize her.
Similarly the Member representing Oshimili South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly Hon. Bridget Anyafulu, spoke highly of the Omu of Anioma and reflected on some of the issues raised by her royal majesty.
“Everyday she makes a comment and if you are reasonable enough you take the comment and read meaning into it, you will understand that she has been playing her role.
“Am happy that she is doing this within the 16 Days of Activism and she is talking about the girl child. She is talking about the rights of the girl child, talking about the role of the woman in the society.
“She is talking about the impact of women participation in politics in the last twenty four years, these are the issues she has raised. All the issues she raised here today are very germane,” she observed.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Delta State Council Comrade Churchill Oyowe, who was a Special Guest at the event stated that the award did not come as a surprise, because the Omu has made her local community gained global attention by her women rights activism.
“She is a strong voice who has attained international status, but has cascaded all that to the local environment, bringing to mind that when you have a global understanding it should be made relevant to your community and she has done that excellently,” he said.
The Omu was joined in the celebration by her only son, and two grandsons, fellow traditional rulers and her household to receive the award.
