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Tag: Eze Ndigbo

  • Southeast traditional rulers’ council abolishes Eze Ndigbo title outside Igboland

    Southeast traditional rulers’ council abolishes Eze Ndigbo title outside Igboland

    Chairman of Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Imo, Eze Emmanuel Okeke, has announced the abolition of ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title for Igbo leaders outside Igboland.

    This decision was made after meetings, deliberations and due consideration.

    Eze Okeke, who spoke to The Nation in Owerri yesterday, said the council had approved ‘Onyendu Ndigbo’ (Igbo Leader in Diaspora) as the most appropriate name for Igbo leaders outside Nigeria.

    The resolution was signed by Eze Okeke, Igwe Nneameka Achebe (Leader) and chairmen of traditional councils in Enugu, Anambra, Abia and Ebonyi states.

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    The council says the title ‘Eze’ is reserved for traditional rulers recognised by the government in Southeast states, and cannot be given to persons residing outside Igbo communities.

    The leaders noted that the use of ‘Eze Ndigbo’ outside Igboland was a corruption of the monarchical system of Ezeship and an abuse of culture and tradition.

    The council also clarified that the celebration of Igbo cultural festivals outside Igboland should be done with the consent and approval of the leadership of Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers or of a particular state Council of Traditional Rulers.

  • Freed Eze Ndigbo’s lawyer faults appeal claim

    Freed Eze Ndigbo’s lawyer faults appeal claim

    Chief Emefo Etudo, the lead counsel to Chief Fredrick Nwajagu, who was cleared of terrorism allegations by a Lagos High Court, has disclaimed a lawyer, Fabian Onwughalu, who allegedly claimed to be the counsel to the freed community leader.

    Nwajagu, who claimed to be Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate, Lagos State, was charged with terrorism in 2023 but was acquitted and discharged by Justice Y. A. Adesanya on January 15.

    During the trial, the counsel on record were Chief Etudo and Mrs. Charity Etudo, while the prosecutor was Dr. Jude Martin’s

    Onwughalu was alleged to have claimed to be the lawyer of the defendant and that he would appeal the judgment.

    However, Etudo said he had yet to study the judgment and his client Nwajagu did not authorise any appeal.

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    “We urge the public to discountenance the said statement in its entirety,” he said.

    Etudo’s statement reads: “The attention of the Lead Counsel on Record for the defendant, in the case of The State Of Lagos vs Fredrick Nwajagu (Charge No. LD/21505C/2023) has been drawn to the statement of Barrister Fabian Onwughalu alleging a purported plan of the defendant to appeal the judgement of the court dated 15th January 2025.

    “On my behalf and on behalf of the defendant, Chief Fredrick Nwajagu, I disclaim the said statement of Barrister Fabian Onwughalu, as the defendant did not authorise him to make the statement.

    “He was not in court or part of the defence when that judgment was made on 15/1/25 and therefore does not understand the judgment in the first place.

    “I, Chief Emefo Emefo, the lead counsel for the defendant is yet to study the judgment which has just been received and the defendant himself will make a statement in relation thereafter.

    “We regret any damage caused to Lagos State and the entire public by the said statement of Barrister Fabian Onwughalu on 16/01/25. We urge the public to discountenance the said statement in its entirety.”

  • Eze Ndigbo is ambassador of peace

    Eze Ndigbo is ambassador of peace

    Eze Ndigbo of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, Nicholas Njoku, has promised to give more to philanthropy and humanity.

    He spoke when he was presented with ‘Face of Peace and Integrity Advocates Award’, his diplomatic passport and car plate number.

    Njoku said: “I know this is a call to greater responsibilities, so I ask  God to help me. I know people look up to me so I must guide myself, conduct, utterances, and create more time for challenges ahead.

    “The plan is to be more God fearing, if you work with knowledge you will be limited but working with the Lord makes you unlimited. I need to be more humble and prepare myself to bear their burden.

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    “One major plan is to continue to make peace in my community. We’ve been doing that before now, but we must work harder to ensure it lasts because there can be no progress without peace.

    “We will continue to preach peace by saying the truth.”

    State Director of International Association of Great Peace Ambassadors, Bishop Ike Nkemakolam, noted Njoku was recognised for his efforts at making peace and philanthropy everywhere.

    He said: “We are here to honor Ambassador Eze, Nicholas Njoku and deliver his international diplomatic passport and car plate number.

    “This award is at the prompting of United Nations in recognition of his work, ambition and desire to touch humanity. He has been doing that and we decided to bestow him the honour today. We hope he will continue to do good always.”

    Peace ambassador of United Nations and member of International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), Emmanuel Ebuk, noted: “You can’t progress without peace, or prosper without peace. Nicholas has impacted society and we are encouraging people to embrace peace…’’

    Eze Ndigbo of Ikeja, Uche Dimgba, praised UN for honouring one of them.

    He said the union of Eze would support Njoku to succeed.

  • Oba Hamzat was bridge-builder, says Eze Ndigbo of Lagos

    Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Chairman Igbo Council of Ndieze Lagos State Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu has said the death of Olu of Afowowa Kingdom in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun, Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat, was a huge loss to the state and the country.

    He added that the Oba’s death came at a time when the state and the country are still benefiting immensely from his wealth of experience, wisdom and knowledge.

    Eze Nwachukwu spoke at the eighth-day Jumat Prayer held in his honour at Blue Roof, LTV Ground, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Describing him as a bridge-builder, Eze Nwachukwu stated that the late Oba Hamzat was a very good friend of the Igbo resident in Lagos, even as he added that “he was a father, mentor and one who cherished peaceful co-existence among residents of the state”.

    The late Oba Hamzat, he said, was committed to the development of democratic principles and justice, saying his family, subjects and state are consoled by the fact that the late Hamzat live a fulfilled life and also left behind those who are also dedicated towards continuing the democratic struggle.

    Eze Nwachukwu, who is also the Chairman, Lagos West Igbo Community, urged the late Oba’s children, especially the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, to continue to promote the ideals for which their father was known.

    He said: “He lived a life entirely devoted to the growth and enhancement of democracy and democratic tenets in the country and was also committed to every cause of justice and the rule of law.

    “I urge his children and those of us he left behind to emulate this great man who represented all that were noble.”

  • Eze Ndigbo urges Igbo in Lagos to vote APC

    The Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Chairman, Lagos State Council of Ndieze Christian, Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, has urged residents of the state, especially Ndigbo, to exercise their civic responsibilities on Saturday.

    Eze Nwachukwu, who addressed reporters at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre on Nwachukwu Drive, Ago, Isolo Local Council Development Area, said he appreciated the hardship the people went through when the elections were postponed five hours to the polls.

    He described the sudden postponement as a national embarrassment, saying: “The people must have gone through some unsavoury experiences because of the sudden postponement of the elections.

    “Some travelled to their communities to vote. If they felt disappointed, no one should blame them. If INEC had informed the electorate that the polls would be shifted for one week, Nigerians would not have gone through the excruciating experiences. They shouldn’t have travelled in vain, let alone incur economic losses.

    “I urge the people to vote according to their conscience. In particular, I urge Ndigbo in Lagos State to vote for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I also plead with Ndigbo in Lagos to particularly vote for the governorship candidate of APC, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (the Ugochimere Eze Ndigbo I), the Senator representing Lagos West Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), lawmaker representing Lagos Central Oluremi Tinubu (Ezinne Ndigbo of Lagos State), Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson (Dikedioramma of Ndigbo), who is vying for a seat at the House of Representatives to represent Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, and the member representing Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency II in the House of Assembly, Jude Emeka Idimogu,” Nwachukwu said.

  • Ambode not against the Igbo, says Eze Ndigbo

    Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu has urged the Igbo resident in Lagos State to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of intimidation by the Lagos State government. He said Ambode has no plans to do anything  harmful to Ndigbo or any other ethnic group resident in Lagos.

    Eze Nwachukwu spoke on Sunday while addressing reporters at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre on Nwachukwu Drive Okota Isolo Lagos while reacting to what he called “fake news on one of the social media platforms to the effect that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was making some moves against non-indigenes, especially the Igbo”.

    He revealed that the government, through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, has debunked the allegation, adding that “those who peddled the fake news only wanted to sow seed of discord among Ndigbo and their host communities to achieve their selfish goals.”

    Eze Nwachukwu said the mischief makers aimed at causing disaffection among Ndigbo resident in Lagos and the governor, using his (Eze Nwachukwu) office as their target, to the effect that the governor has outlawed his position as Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State.

    He said Ndigbo have gone beyond that stage of confronting their host communities or show disregard for laws of the land because the Igbo are stakeholders in Lagos State’s economic development.

    He noted that it was in realisation of this that Ndigbo organised a befitting solidarity with the Lagos State when it celebrated Lagos at 50. He noted that people who don’t want to recognise the huge achievements of the government want to disorganise the system by causing disaffection among Ndigbo, other ethnic nationalities resident in the state and the state government.

    He said: “Now that elections are few months away, mischief makers want to smudge the name of Governor Ambode and make him unacceptable to certain ethnic groups that will help in his electoral success in 2019.

    “This is an act of cowardice. Those peddling fake news should openly confront the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in Lagos State rather than engage in sowing seed of discord between the governor and Ndigbo in order to achieve their selfish desires.

    “The relationship among the Yoruba and the Igbo resident in the state has been on since 1999 when the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu was the governor. We cannot break our promise of being partners in progress during the administrations of Tinubu and his successors.

    “If any group or groups are afraid of fighting the government of Lagos State, they should not use Ndigbo as platform to engage the Ambode administration to achieve their selfish ambition because we will not subscribe to such myopic and retrogressive idea.”

    He stated that Ndigbo remain resolute in their support for the government of Ambode or any governor after him. Any political groups that are trying to use Ndigbo to fight Ambode and his administration cannot succeed. We are strongly behind the government of Lagos State, the obas, the APC as a party because we cannot play the role of an opposition in Lagos.

    “I advise Ndigbo to ignore that piece of falsehood because the government has debunked the report.

    “Ambode loves Ndigbo and listens to them whenever they call on him. We urge law enforcement agents to fish out those who peddled the fake news and bring them to justice, as their action was capable of destabilising the society.

    “It is disheartening that people could be mischievous when they are not benefiting from any particular party or government.

    “Many politicians and political groups have been approaching the office of the Eze Ndigbo  with a view to receive blessings or endorsement or to join them in their bid to rubbish the good name and work of Governor Ambode, or to fight a sitting government. The moment you turn down their requests, they start looking for a way to throw a stone and to fan the ember of discord.

    “Many of them have come here seeking for coalition to bring the government to disrepute. But we cannot be part of such nasty and unproductive game.

    “Since I turned down their requests, they are now looking for a way to ruffle the government or make it seem unacceptable to Ndigbo. No matter how hard they try, we will never join forces with them to jeopardise the efforts of Lagos State government in making life better for its indigenes and non-indigenes. We will continue to be law-abiding citizens,” he said.

    He added that people should appreciate the rapid and unprecedented infrastructural development the government has been able to achieve and join hands with it for more of such achievements.

     

  • Eze Ndigbo leadership tussle: Kano court restrains Ibekwe

    A Kano High Court, sitting in Bichi Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Aisha  Ya’u has granted an interim injunction, restraining the Eze Ndigbo Kano, Chief Boniface Ibekwe from parading himself, as the authentic Eze Ndigbo in the State, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    In a suit, No. K/385/2018, signed by the Registrar of the Court, instituted at the High Court of Bichi Judicial Division between the Plaintiff, Eze Ndigbo v, Eze Diorama v of Kano State, Chief Ikechukwu Oliver Akpudo and the defendant, Boniface Ibekwe in an order of interim injunction, restraining the defendant, either by himself or through his agents, by parading himself, as traditional ruler, head or leader of Eze Ndigbo Kano under the auspices of Igbo Community Association   (ICA).

    The court order further restrained the defendant from interfering with moveable or immovable, sell or gift out properties of the ICA in Kano, among which include, landed properties at No. 59 Church Road, Sabon Gari, Kano, as well as plots of land situated behind Tony Cheta Group of Schools, Nomansland, Kano, Business shops at the Abubakar Rimi Market, as well as New Road Motorpark, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

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    He is also advised to refrain from transferring, evacuating  or moving away any of the properties, landed or immovable property documents, such as Certificate of Occupancy. (C of O) for his personal use.

    Besides, the defendant was also restrained from: ”Holding or granting press interviews and or attending any functions, occasions, meetings, purportedly, aimed at parading himself as the authentic Eze Ndigbo in Kano, pending the hearing on notice.”

    According to the court order, the defendant is to keep away from all the original documents, belonging to the Igbo Community Association (ICA) and all such properties, which are hitherto in the lawful custody of the defendant respondent, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to September 25, 2018 for hearing of application.

  • Ahead 2019: Group seeks unity of Igbos for Buhari, Ambode’s re-election

    A socio-political group, Igbo Vision in APC, says the only way forward for Igbos in Lagos state is to unite and support the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode in 2019.

    The group made the declaration on Wednesday at its meeting in Lagos, organised to endorse President Buhari and Gov. Ambode for re-election in 2019 general elections.

    Speaking at the event, Mr Joe Igbokwe, Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that various Igbo groups in the state must unite in the interest of Igbos in Lagos.

    “It is not about money, it is about our interest that we are fighting for. We should unite and showcase our strength. Based on our strength, we will be recognised.

    “We need to make a statement with our votes. Gov. Ambode wants Igbos in one form, we must harmonise everybody.

    “We need to have a single forum that will bear APC, either Igbo in APC or Ndigbo in APC that will accommodate everybody.

    “We need to work with other Igbo groups and persons to get the strength we need to negotiate and change the equation.

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    “Igbo nation should know that if we need to be relevant in Nigeria politically, we need to join APC for us to have a President of Nigeria from Igbo extraction in shortest distance.

    “We should queue behind Buhari in 2019,” he said.

    He urged Igbos to play the politics by bringing everyone together across the country and stop hate speech and bigotry.

    The publicity secretary quoted Buhari as saying that,“there is no reason why Igbo should not produce President in 2023”  and admonished all Igbos to “play reasonable politics.“

    Igbokwe, who also admonished Igbos in Lagos not to approach 2019 general elections with a divided house, recalled that the Igbos were polarised during 2015 general elections.

    He said that the division in the house affected the group in the scheme of things in Lagos APC.

    According to him, the leadership of APC in the state, after 2015 election results, thought every Igbo man voted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hence the distrust for Igbos thereafter.

    Igbokwe commended the Executives of Igbos across all local government areas in Lagos state for standing behind the party in spite of the hard times the group went through after 2015 elections.

    According to him, though there is no serious opposition in Lagos like it happened in 2015, the Igbos should not repeat the mistake they made in 2015 elections by voting against Ambode.

    He reminded the Igbos in the state that “things have changed.“

    “In Lagos, we need to showcase our strength by bringing everybody on board. The fight for supremacy is over.

    “We are looking beyond peanuts, but on things that will help us and our children. Our votes must be noticed in numbers, we have a lot of work to do to be recognised.

    ” The number of Ndigbos in Lagos can no longer be ignored. We need to organise ourselves. “We don’t have any other place go than to remain in APC.

    “We must play the politics. We need to be on the same page. We should not be spectators, it is a game of number, we have to go out and fight for votes.”

    Also speaking, Chief Uche Dimgba, the Eze Ndigbo, Ikeja, said that there was need to sensitise Igbos on the need to unify and mobilise for Buhari and Ambode, to actualise the vision and aspirations of Igbos.

    Dimgba, who said that the group still believed in APC, added that no effort would be spared to bring all aggrieved together to support Buhari and Ambode.

    Mr Leo Obasi, the Organising Secretary of the group, said that there was a need for stronger Igbo organisations in Lagos APC for the benefits of Ndigbos.

    Obasi, who noted that the Igbo leadership in Lagos were divided, urged them to consider the future of the Sout-East people in the state in all they did.

    The meeting brought together Igbo leaders across the 20 local government areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

    NAN

     

  • Eze Ndigbo praises Buhari, Tinubu over Abiola, June 12

    As Nigerians still bask in the euphoria of the recognition accorded to the late Chief MKO Abiola as the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election by President Muhammadu Buhari, the President has continued to receive praises.

    This time, Ndigbo in Lagos State under the leadership of Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu (JP), the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State have commended the President for what they called “righting the wrongs that lasted two-and-a-half decades.”

    Addressing reporters at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Nwachukwu Drive Okota in Oshodi/Isolo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State on Saturday, Eze Nwachukwu also praised Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his doggedness in the fight to recognise Chief Abiola as the winner of that election and to also recognise June 12 as Democracy Day in the stead of May 29.

    He said: “Asiwaju Tinubu, who I regard as the most courageous and most intelligent political actor of our time, has proved again that his stand on true democracy and equity are all we need to move the country forward.

    “Being the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he must have contributed immensely in terms of advising Mr President on what to do to placate some sections of the country that felt and still feel aggrieved over some political moves by some past leaders.

    “I have heard some comments that the recognition of June 12 and the honour on the late Chief Abiola were mere political calculations. They also said it was meant to assuage the South, especially the Southwest geo-political zone aimed in order to get their votes in the 2019 general elections. It is a very unfair way to commend anyone who has done something right.

    “By this action, both President Buhari and Asiwaju Tinubu have proved that they are true democrats.

    “The move was aimed at healing festering wounds in the spirit of national interest and national reconciliation, deepening our democracy and freedom; to overcome our various divides and produce unity and national cohesion. This indicates that time for complete national unity has come and we have to embrace it.

    “It was regrettable that the 1993 presidential election was nullified despite its clarity that Abiola won the election. The conferment of the national honours and the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day by the APC government were clear expressions that the country acknowledged the error she had committed 25 years ago.”

    Continuing, Eze Nwachukwu said: “To avoid a situation where the honour on Abiola and the recognition of June 12 as Democracy Day became mere declaration of intent by the President, I urge members of the National Assembly to immediately begin a process of amending the Public Holidays Act in order to make June 12 attain the status of an Act of Parliament and be constitutionally recognised as a public holiday.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman Council of Chiefs, Igbo Community Centre Lagos, Chief Elemuwa Anthony Chukwuemeka praised President Buhari for the honour done to the winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election. He advised him to bring to fruition the principles of June 12 which, he said, are eradication of poverty, restoration of hope to all Nigerians, freedom and recognition of human dignity by halting unnecessary killing of innocent Nigerians in some parts of the country.

    He said: “The President should work hard to end poverty, as that was what Abiola stood for.

    The late Abiola was loved by all Nigerians before, during and after the annulled election because some of his cardinal programmes were to end poverty by all means and not to allow any Nigerian to suffer. The Federal Government should follow the steps of the late Abiola.”

  • Deji replaces Eze Ndigbo title

    The Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has approved the replacement of Eze Ndigbo title with Onyedu Ndigbo.

    The monarch gave the  Eze Ndigbo, Greogory Ilohehika, a month notice to accept the  title.

    In 2015, Ilohehika allegedly disrespected the monarch, who banned the Eze Ndigbo title in Akure.

    Ilohehika reportedly insisted on holding on to the title.

    A statement by the Deji’s Chief Press Secretary,  Michael Adeyeye, said: “It should be noted that this is the new approved traditional title for any Igbo leader within Akure and its environs.

    “A month notice has been communicated to Mr. Gregory Ilohehika to accept this title.

    “Mr Ilohehika has been advised to apply in writing for this new title, if he is still interested.

    “Failure to comply with this directive shall amount to rejection of the title.

    “In view of the possible rejection of the title, the Igbo community shall produce another leader at the expiration of the ultimatum.”