FG, Ohanaeze Jointly Ban ‘Eze Ndigbo’ Title Abroad
The Federal Government and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have jointly banned the coronation of Eze Ndigbo in foreign countries, calling it an embarrassment.
In a statement by the Media Aide to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Magnus Eze disclosed that Bianca Ojukwu made the position of the Government known at the meeting of Imeobi in Enugu, the highest decision-making body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, that such titles have caused violent backlash abroad.
Just weeks ago, the coronation of an “Eze Ndigbo” in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, following the controversial coronation of a Nigerian Igbo leader, Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, as “Eze Ndigbo na East London” (Igbo King in East London).
The event sparked an outcry from local residents, traditional leaders, and political parties, leading to violence, the torching of foreign-owned vehicles, and looting, with the South African government calling it illegal.
A similar quit-notice crisis erupted in Ghana last July, according to the Minister, where she had led a delegation to Accra to douse the palpable tension as Ghanian protesters demanded that Nigerians must leave their country, while the tension was defused following the intervention of Ghana’s President, insisting that there was no place for xenophobia in his country.
The minister urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo to prescribe sanctions for any persons flouting its directive abolishing Igbo traditional rulership outside Igboland.
The Nigerian Embassy in Pretoria had since apologized and urged Nigerians in South Africa to maintain a low profile as well as avoid further confrontations.
The statement further stated that Ohanaeze President General, Senator Azuta Mbata, declared the title proscribed outside Igboland, abolishing Eze Ndigbo title in diaspora, with village-level sanctions for violators.
