Rommy Ezeonwuka, chairman of the Ogilisi Igbo Foundation, has condemned the practice of preserving dead bodies in mortuaries across Igboland. Speaking with journalists in Awka on Thursday, he described the act as unchristian and contrary to Igbo tradition. He urged South-East state governors to decongest public and private morgues, which he said are overwhelmed by unburied corpses. Ezeonwuka stressed that in traditional Igbo culture, burial occurred within 24 hours of death, often before noon, to allow the deceased to begin their spiritual journey.
He referenced the biblical account of Jesus Christ's burial by Joseph of Arimathea, saying timely interment aligns with Christian and cultural values. While funeral rites could be delayed, he insisted burial should happen immediately after death. Ezeonwuka called on governors to evaluate mortuaries in the region within six months and initiate mass burials for unidentified bodies under existing laws. He claimed that clearing unburied corpses could reduce crime and moral decay in the region.
Rommy Ezeonwuka is invoking culture and faith to address a modern logistical crisis, but his call exposes how tradition is bending under urban pressures. The image of bodies held for over a year in morgues is not just a cultural affront—it signals failing infrastructure and overwhelmed families. If governors act, it will be more about managing space than reviving custom. This is less a spiritual revival and more a symptom of systems stretched beyond design.
