•Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu
The federal government has criticised the coronation and activities of individuals styled as Eze Ndigbo (Igbo traditional rulers) in foreign countries, describing the practice as embarrassing.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stated this while presenting the position of the government at a meeting of Imeobi, the highest decision-making body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, held in Enugu today, reports The PUNCH.
In a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze, the minister said, “The situation has become a major embarrassment to the government, Ndigbo, Nigerians, and citizens of host countries where such titles are conferred.”
Recently, violent protests erupted 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 development sparked outrage among local residents, traditional leaders, and political groups, leading to unrest, the burning of foreign-owned vehicles, and looting.
Addressing the Ohanaeze Imeobi/General Assembly, the minister recalled that a similar incident occurred in Ghana in July 2025 over the Eze Ndigbo issue.
She said she had led a delegation to Accra to ease tensions following protests in which some Ghanaian groups demanded that Nigerians leave the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that cultural expression should not create conflict with host communities, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had continued to deploy diplomatic channels to address the situation in South Africa.
She said, “Aggrieved Ghanaians issued our people with a quit notice, insisting that Nigerians must leave.”
According to her, the delegation met with President John Mahama of Ghana, ministers, the Inspector-General of Police, traditional authorities across regions, and representatives of the Nigerian community.
She added that tensions eased following the intervention of President Mahama, who maintained that there was no place for xenophobia in Ghana.
Receiving President Bola Tinubu’s special envoy, led by Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Presidential Palace in Accra, the Ghanaian leader reaffirmed his commitment to the Economic Community of West African States protocols, particularly on the free movement of persons and goods within the region.
He also noted that the circulation of an old video made by a Nigerian resident in Ghana more than 10 years ago contributed to the tension, but said the situation was swiftly managed.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reiterated that the safety of Nigerians, their businesses, and property in Ghana could have been threatened but for the intervention of President Mahama.
The minister urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo to prescribe sanctions for individuals who violate its directive abolishing Igbo traditional rulership titles outside Igboland.
She also assured all that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would assist in disseminating the Ohanaeze communiqué on the issue through Nigeria’s missions and high commissions abroad.
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, who presented the decision of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, said the group had adopted the position of traditional rulers abolishing the Eze Ndigbo title in the diaspora.
He said, “Anybody who is awarded such a title anywhere outside Igboland does so on his own. It is not recognised by the Igbo people. We will correspond with state governors and embassies worldwide to inform them of the position of Ndigbo.
“The position of Eze Ndigbo anywhere outside Igboland is hereby declared alien and proscribed. We will determine, in consultation with traditional rulers in Igboland, the appropriate sanctions for anyone who violates this position, and such sanctions will be implemented at the community level,” he said.
On March 14, 2026, Eziko was crowned as a traditional leader in the Gompo area of East London, a move widely interpreted by South Africans as an unlawful challenge to established traditional leadership structures.
Protests began on March 30, 2026, with demonstrations organised by groups including ActionSA, which later escalated into violence.
Protesters targeted foreign-owned businesses and vehicles, with reports indicating that no fewer than 13 vehicles were destroyed.
At least one stabbing incident was also reported, while police deployed stun grenades and tear gas to restore order.
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders condemned the coronation as a “flagrant violation” of customary protocols. The South African Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs also declared the installation illegal and inconsistent with the country’s constitutional provisions.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, in collaboration with the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, has abolished the practice of conferring the title of Eze Igbo outside Igboland.
Igbo associations in the diaspora often organise cultural activities to promote their heritage.
However, the installation of traditional rulers by some of these groups has repeatedly generated friction, not only within Igbo communities abroad but also between Nigerians and their host communities.
The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa distanced itself from the coronation, describing it as a cultural event that was misinterpreted and not a formally recognised monarchy.
The Nigerian Consulate in Pretoria also appealed for calm, urging Nigerians in South Africa to maintain a low profile and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
The Deputy High Commissioner, Olajide Ogunmadeji, who addressed some protesters, explained that the situation had been misconstrued, noting that the coronation was largely ceremonial and not intended to undermine existing traditional authorities.
