Factions Lay Claim To Leadership; As Eze Ndigbo Title Is Scrapped |The Source

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

The crisis rocking the Cross River state chapter of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has come to a head with the factionalization of  the body and the scrapping of the title and the office of Eze Ndigbo, Cross River State held by Sir E.A. Ezenwenyi.

The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the state, Barrister Ugoji Nwabueze, who issued a press statement, stripping  Ezenwenyi of the title said the body was withdrawing the  Eze Ndigbo title because it was not only a source of friction between the Cross River State  Traditional Rulers Council which has, on different occasions,  frowned at its usage, and the Igbo community, but also breeds bad blood among the Igbo themselves, regretting that he was actually coarced into issuing certificate of recognition to Ezenwenyi as “EzeNdigbo”.

Barrister Nwabueze, also, stated that the withdrawal was in consonant with the 2018 and 2020 resolutions of the National body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo abolishing the  Eze Ndigbo title paraded by self styled “monarchs” in Diaspora.

The statement released  by the Cross River state Ohanaeze boss who is, also, the Senior Special Assistant on Non Indigene Affairs ( Igbo) reads:

“The South East Traditional Rulers Council, after their meeting in early October, 2018 re-stated that the “Eze Ndigbo” title had become a contentious issue among Ndigbo in diaspora.

“Through well circulated newspaper advertorials,  particularly Sun Newspapers, the South East Traditional Rulers  Council had banned the use of the title of ‘Eze Ndi Igbo’ in diaspora by any one.”

It described the said title as “impositotry, malicious, vexatious  , offensive and Insulting to the Traditional rulers in South East and the host traditional instutions in the  communities where such exist”.

“The South-East Monarchs wondered how any sane man will want to become Eze (king) in another man’s kingdom. The Council  then advised those desiring to be coronated as EZE or IGWE to go back to their respective communities in the South-east and aspire to such office and get coronated there.

The decision was reaffirned at the last meeting of South East Traditional Rulers Council held at Enugu in November, 2020. According to Vanguard newspapers of November, 25, page 26, titled ” Igbo Monarchs battle Eze Igbo in diaspora”, it quoted the chairman of Abia State Traditional Rulers Council as saying that the EZE IGBO title in diaspora is against Igbo tradition and should be abolished.

“Also, a prominent monarch in Enugu  State and the Traditional ruler of Obimo Autonomous Community, Igwe Spencer Ugwueke, condemned in strong terms the conferment of Eze Igbo in diaspora on Igbo indegenes. He asked if any one had ever heard of an Hausa man crowned Emir in Igbo land or any Yoruba man answering Oba in any Igbo state.

The said-newspaper report noted with dismay that in spite of the ban on the title, some persons were still parading themselves as such and asked such persons to stop forth with as such conduct and title were embarrassing to South East Traditional Rulers Council.

And Cross River state is not an exception as the controversy over the title has created frosty relationship among Ndi Igbo and the traditional institution in Cross River for decades now.

It is on record that the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council over the years have been consistent in the rejection of the title.

1n 2004, when the idea of the said-title was muted, the then Obong of Calabar was so angry that those who ever thought of the idea were punished as he stripped two of them the title of, “Ada Ida ke” confered on both some years back. The Obong’s Council described such title as grossly disrespectful to the traditional Institutions in the State.

‘”On October 20, 2018 during the OHANAEZE  IGBO DAY, CROSS RIVER STATE, the  coronation of Eze Ndi Igbo  ( KING OF THE IGBO) came up again .

The Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council upon hearing about the coming event issued a Press Statement reiterating it’s earlier opposition to the title and coronation as it were over the years. In protest, all stayed away from the event. It was on the ground of the opposition that the coronation of the said- Eze Igbo was cancelled.

“However, a group of self-serving  cartel among Ndigbo in the state insisted I must proceed with issuance of certificate of coronation in my capacity as President of OHANAEZE CROSS RIVER STATE even when I drew their attention to the earlier ban on the title by the South East Traditional Rulers Council.

The certificate was subsquently issued by me at Boki under duress, outside the eagle  eyes of the State Traditional Rulers Council.

The South East Traditional Rulers Council has now mandated me to officially withdraw the said-Certificate I had issued in error. It is obvious I don’t have the capacity to install any one as such since my root did not draw strenght from royalty.

Since I can’t give what I don’t have, the Certificate signed by me is hereby withdrawn accordingly as its issuance has continued to jeorpadise the smooth relationship among Ndi Igbo in Cross River and the State Traditional Rulers Council.

It is regrettable that one man’s interest has continued to militate against the majority and general interest of Ndi Igbo in Cross River.

“As an appointee of the Governor, I have the mandate to do what is right and what will promote the interest and well being of Ndi Igbo in the state and restore the our confidence among our history communities.

“The error of  issuance of the Certificate of the title of Eze Ndi Igbo by me is accordingly regretted and any one parading himself as such remains an impostor and should be treated so by relevant authorities, especially security agents.

The arrogance of the claimant to the office has got to crescendo as it grossly showed disrespect to Ndi Igbo and the host communities, as depicted in a COMMUNIQUE issued and dated March 20, 2021

The illegal meeting was allegedly held at ‘Obi EzeIgbo, (private home of Chief Emmanuel Ezenwenyi), the so-called EZEIGBO. Perhaps,  “king” of the Igbo in Cross River is above the law and a non- respecter of instructions, lawful orders  and constituted authority.

“We, therefore, enjoin the general public to take note of the recent development within the Igbo Community while urging all our people to remain calm and go about their normal business and legally”

The state was copied to the Chairman , South East Traditional Council, Chairman,  Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council,the Permanent Secretary/ SSO

Calabar the Obong of Calabar,

The Ndidem of Oquas,Muri Munene, the Cross River state Commissioner of Police an Director, DSS, Calabar.

Notedly brewing crisis in Ohanaeze in Cross blew open recently following a meeting held by a faction of the body led by Sir Ezenwenyi in his residence in Calabar where Barrister Nwabueze was purportedly suspended and an interim administration led by one Prince Agwu Nwokedi constituted.

The meeting which the Nwabueze faction described as illegal since it was not  authorized by him in his capacity as the President, held despite a warming from the state government against such gathering which it feared was capable of “breaching public peace”.

A statement signded by Dr. A.A Mboto, an aide  to Governor Ben Ayade on Special Services,  warning against the meeting reads: “The attention of the office of Special Services, Governor’s office, Calabar has been drawn to a purported unauthorised meeting of some Igbo scheduled secretly to hold in Calabar on 20th of March, 2021.

The said meeting has failed to hold in Obubra and Ugep respectively because of the obvious intention capable of creating breach of public peace.

The CRSG uses this chance to inform the conveners that the current security situation on ground do not permit such meetings now and subsequently, please.

The conveners are hereby notified accordingly to stand down the meeting.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Non Indegene Affairs ( Igbo) is according put on Notice to monitor and report any flouting of this directive”

Meanwhile, Nwabueze has dismissed his alleged suspension and institution of interim Ohanaeze leadership in the state, describing the development as an illegality that cannot stand.

His words: “Note that I am still the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Cross River State branch and still enjoy the respect and good will of my people, home and in diaspora.

“Recently, in February, I was mandated to lead a delegation on behalf of Ohanaeze Worldwide to the funeral of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, late Idongest Nkanga.

“It follows therefore that any meeting called and not authorised by me to the extent of not having my approval is illegal, null and void.

“Ohanaeze constitution has no provision for Interim or caretaker committee, so any one or persons parading themselves as such remains a product of illegality.”