The Igbo Diaspora kings under the umbrella of the Association of Ndi Eze Ndigbo Na Uzo Ije have rejected the name “Onye Ndu Ndigbo” recommended by Southeast Traditional Rulers in a publication dated January 28, 2025.
In a communique released after a meeting in Lagos, members noted that the Association of Ndieze Ndigbo in the Diaspora is duly registered by Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C, CAC/IT/No .21796 dated 12th September 2006, reports Sunday Independent.
“We strongly believe that our royal fathers back home were misdirected and misinformed about the name to be answered by the group.
“This meeting holds the leadership of Southeast Traditional Rulers like the previous ones in high esteem. We do not want to take through the historical contests and previous interventions regarding the name change.
“So we appeal that they drop their generated name of Oyendu Ndigbo. We remain Eze Ndigbo as contained in our constitution as the supposed new name would not yield the desired reforms intended,”
Moved by insecurity across the country and its devastating effect on the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians, the Association of Eze Ndigbo in the Diaspora equally urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle the problem headlong without fear or favour.
The call was part of the communique released after a meeting in Lagos and signed by Eze Ndigbo, Ondo State and the newly elected President General of the association, Sir Greg Iloerika, Eze John Greg Okey Ezebuadi (Secretary General/ President Southern zone), Eze Uche Egenti Deputy PG/ President Northern zone), Eze Amb. Chukwudi Ihenetu (Publicity Secretary/Eze Ndigbo Ghana) and immediate past PG, and Eze Ndigbo Kano, Eze Boniface Ibekwe, the Igbo group noted the serious effort of President Tinubu towards bringing peace, stability and food security particularly in the North and called for the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
The communique further stated that the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu would end the Monday sit-at-home, which has almost crippled the economy of the Southeast and also put an end to loss of lives in the region.
While responding to questions from the media, Eze John Greg Ezebuadi noted that several well meaning Nigerians like the late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Edwin Clark, and Mbazulile Amechi at one time or the other in their life time appealed for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Sadly, such calls were never heeded until they joined their ancestors,” he said.
On what Igbo in the Diaspora are doing to protect Ndigbo abroad from xenophobic attacks, Eze Ndigbo Ghana, HRM Ihenetu said some of the skirmishes between the host country and Ndigbo occur when some of our people fail to respect the laws of their host countries.
Eze Ihenetu recalled that sometime ago in Ghana, issues of trade dispute resulted in the locking of some shops of Igbo traders in Ghana. He noted that the issue has since been resolved by him and some Igbo leaders in Ghana and Nigeria.
