By Ani Bassey
An official of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Cross River State and Senior Special Assistant to Professor Ayade on Non Indigene Affairs (Igbo), Ugorgi Nwabueze  says the office of Eze Ndigbo no longer exists in the state.

Nwabueze made this known in Calabar in reaction to the crisis that has rocked the Igbo community in the state.

He maintained that the position of Eze Ndigbo has caused a series of crisis in Igbo community in the diaspora and this necessitated the abolition of the said office by the South East Traditional Rulers Council.

“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 a well circulated newspaper advertorials, 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”, he said.

He added that the decision was reaffirned at the last meeting of South East Traditional Rulers Council held at Enugu in November, 2020.

He said that 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  answering Oba in any Igbo state.

Nwabueze added that ‘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.

“The South East Traditional Rulers Council has now mandated me to 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 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 Ndigbo in Cross River and the State Traditional Rulers Council”, he said.

Eze Chibueze Agbo passes on

He said as an appointee of the Governor, he has the mandate to do what is right and what will promote the interest and well being of Ndi Igbo in the state.

He enjoined the general public to take note of the recent development within the Igbo Community, remain calm and legally  go about their normal business.