Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Thursday, announced the proscription of the conferment and use of the title “Eze Ndigbo” outside Igbo land.
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, announced this on during Ohanaeze Imeobi and General Assembly held in Enugu.
He warned that violators would face sanctions to be determined by traditional authorities.
Mbata noted that the decision followed extensive consultations and was reached after a joint meeting involving the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the leadership of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers.
In a strongly worded address, the Ohanaeze leader said the organisation would formally communicate its position to state governments and diplomatic missions across the world.
He said, “Southeast is proscribing the award of the title of Eze Ndigbo outside of Igbo land. Anybody who is being awarded that type of title anywhere outside of Igbo land is on his own. It is unknown to the Igbo people.
“We will call upon all state governors and correspond to all embassies in the world informing them about the position of Igbo.”
Mbata stressed that the position of Ohanaeze was final and binding, declaring that the title, when conferred outside the South-East, would no longer be recognised by the Igbo people.
“The position of Eze Ndigbo anywhere outside Igbo land is hereby alienated and proscribed. That is the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” he said.
The Ohanaeze President-General further disclosed that consultations were ongoing with traditional rulers across Igbo land to determine appropriate sanctions for defaulters.
“We will determine, in consultation with the kings of Igbo land, what the punishment will be for anybody who goes against this position, and that punishment will be implemented at your village level,” Mbata stated.
He said enforcement of such sanctions would be carried out through local structures, including town unions and community leadership.
“Your hometown, your town union will be under injunction to implement that punishment, but we are going to declare that punishment after due consultation,” he added.
The declaration marks a significant move by Ohanaeze to assert cultural authority and standardise traditional titles among Igbo communities both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.
Meanwhile, the climax of the meeting was the adoption of the reviewed Constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo by the General Assembly.
A motion for the adoption, which was moved by the retired Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, Most Rev Emmanuel Chukwuma, received overwhelming endorsement.
