IZU IKEI Holds Lecture on Strengthening Governance, Culture Interface in Checking Anti-Social Behavior in Enuani

There has been a call for a closer relationship between governance and culture to promote value re-orientation and curb social vices in the society.

Senator Ned Nwoko, representing the Delta North senatorial district in the National Assembly, made the call in his remarks at a lecture themed: “Traditional Deterrents to Anti-Social Behavior in Enuani Communities – Bridging the Gap Between Governance and Culture”, organized by the Aniocha-Oshimili Elders’ Association, otherwise known as “Izu Ikei”.

Represented by the Chairman, Technical Committee on the Creation of Anioma State, Ogbueshi Godfrey Odogwu, Senator Nwoko, attributed deviant behavior of people, especially the youth, to the failure of government to live up to its responsibility to citizens, particularly in the areas of employment and economic empowerment.

He noted that in the absence of meaningful engagements, many youths, and even older people, had resorted to crime and criminality in order to make ends meet, thereby running foul of the laws of government and culture of their communities.

The Lawmaker maintained that the government, and indeed the communities and sociocultural organizations, like Izu Ikei, should collaborate to ensure that the welfare and well-being of the people received the needed attention to reduce deviant behavior in the society.

Senator Nwoko described the theme of the lecture as apt and timely and commended Izu Ikei for seeking solution to a major societal problem in Aniocha-Oshomili, which was regulated by strong cultural systems that sustained social order in centuries past, through traditional institutions that acted as moral properties and community arbiters.

Also speaking, Chairman on the occasion, Prof kemi Emina, commended the founding fathers of Izu Ikei for their clear vision to continue to promote the ideals of the Aniocha-Oshimili people, describing the lecture as a bold steps towards achieving that.

Prof Emina noted that civilization has taken a toll on the culture and tradition of Anioma people and urged eligible the people of Aniocha-Oshimili to join Izu Ikei and other sociocultural organizations committed to promoting and preserving their cultural heritage and inculcating the right values in the younger generation.

Earlier in a welcome address, the President of the Aniocha-Oshimili Elders’ Association, Prince Sir Clement Okonjo, said the organization, whose motto is “Afu Ekwune Na Egbu Ikei”, was founded by late Chief Peter Dunkwu, a former Odogwu of Okpanam, to carve out an identity for elders of Aniocha-Oshimili.

Prince Okonji highlighted the aims and objectives of the association to include, to promote guidance and collective leadership in all matters affecting the interest, solidarity and welfare of Aniocha-Oshimili people, to promote unity among all people of Aniocha-Oshimili, to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of Aniocha-Oshimili people, to promote understanding among all residents of Aniocha-Oshimili communities and to research and publish findings on cultural and socio-economic issues affecting Aniocha-Oshimili people.

Dwelling on the theme of the lecture, the Guest Speaker, Prof Odigwe Nwaokocha, of the Department of History and International Relations, University of Benin, said any conduct not approved by the society, as it concerned the culture of a people, should be considered to be anti-social.

He classified culture as, what is expected (Omenani) and what is obtainable (Odinani), explaining that stepping out of them was anti-social or a taboo, and adding that the consequences of such a misconduct represented the traditional deterrents.

Prof Nwaokocha pointed out that the deterrents could include the contravener being either ostracized, fined, asked to commit suicide or facing sanctions from the gods of the land, with dire consequences for the persons concerned and his family.

The Guest Speaker, however, challenged the government and community to live up to their responsibilities to the people, stressing that “no deterrent is expected to work in a society where things are not in their right places and where immorality among the leaders is the order of the day”.

The event, which was attended by notable community leaders and some sociocultural organizations from within the Aniocha-Oshimili region and beyond, featured cultural dances.