The groups gave the warning on the heels of the press conference held by the Chiefs a.k.a Eze Udo, who were crowned by Eze Ohazuruike for administrative convenience as Ezendigbo of Lagos State.
In a statement signed by the President General of Igbo Speaking Community, Chief Sunday Udeh and his Secretary, Engr. Chucks Odimegwu and Chairman of Council of Ndieze, Lagos State, Eze Chika Nwokedi and his secretary, Dr Ferdinard Aguneke, respectively, they frowned at the intrusion of the group into the Igbo Speaking community affairs in Lagos State.
They stated that Igbo Speaking community was duly registered at CAC with registration number, 11534 as legal entity to crown Ezendigbo in Lagos State with their laid down rules and regulations since 1999 till date. It was also stated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo and traditional rulers in the South East were aware and had been supportive including Igbo associations and the host communities in Lagos State.
They further stated the criteria for crowning Ezeship in Lagos State, which included presentation of candidates by the immediate community to Igbo Speaking community, screening, letter of consent by the candidate’s town union and traditional ruler from South East based on page 12, Article 7, Section 2-7 of Igbo speaking community constitution.
“Based on the number of Ndieze crowned over the years, spreading to the Local Government areas in the State, Igbo Speaking community formed Council of Ndieze in 2005, which Eze Chika Nwokedi is the current chairman.”
They stated that setting up another Council by the Ohanaeze President, Chief Solomon Aguene, headed by Eze Chris Offia, whose tenure has elapsed and was nullified by the same creator, Chief Aguene in 2022 does not hold water and therefore null and viod.
It should be noted that the members of Eze Udo title holders, which Eze Offia was the then Chairman, were created as representatives of Eze Hycient Ohazuruike in various LCDAs in Lagos State and as such they served as cabinet members of Eze Ohazuruike.
“In Igbo culture and tradition, a king does not crown a king but Chiefs. Therefore, all Eze Udo title holders headed by Eze Chris Offia, should revert to their function and go and make peace with their principal, Eze Ohazuruike.”...CONTINUE READING
“There is nowhere in the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that empowers crowning individuals as Eze in any part of the world. Therefore, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, as an Apex body like Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum cannot descend so low to dabble into Ezeship in diaspora, which is solely the responsibility of the community where the Igbo reside” it was stated.
The groups stated that they rejected the contents of press conference by the Eze Udo and warned them or any other association including individuals to henceforth desist from dabbling into affairs of the Igbo Speaking community and the Council of Ndieze in Lagos State or they may be forced to take legal action to defend the constitution of Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State.
