Igbo South West Traditional Rulers In Diaspora ,Debunks “Vacating Eze’s Thrones For Chief Status” , Insists New “Onyendu” Title, Is Merely Change In Nomenclature  

By Daniel Ohamadike 

Contrary to the recent mock and veiled Declaration of 30 Ndiezes  thrones as  vacant  ,as well as the deliberate but  erroneous equation of new “Onyendu” Title to mere  Chiefs title holders, Igbo traditional Rulers under the aegis of  “South West and South South Traditional Rulers In Diaspora “, has debunked the trending false  news narratives.

Correcting the wrong impression as reported by an Online Newspaper, President of the group , Onyendu John – Greg Okey Ezebuadi , who said that he was amused by the desperation and ignorance exhibited by  Purveyors of the false narrative , stated categorically that there is no vacant thrones and no reduction in status of the former Ezes who are now  applying a new Nomenclature of Onyendu Ndigbo.

While Educating those behind the false narratives , Onyendu Ezebuadi , gave a graphic history surrounding  the emergence of the new title  decades ago  , insisting that as Law Abiding Igbo Leaders in Diaspora, they are bound to accept and adopt the new name “Onyendu” in strict compliance to the directives of the South East  Council of Traditional Rulers ,led by His Royal Highness, Eze  Emmanuel C. Okeke and the recent similar pronouncement by their host ,the  Lagos State Government.

It would be recalled that an Online Newspaper( Names withheld ) , had reported that 30 Ndiezes in Lagos and Ogun States had denounced , jettisoned their titles and thrones, following a letter purportedly  written and signed by the President of Southwest traditional rulers in diaspora, Onyendu John-Greg Okey Ezebuadi to the Southeast traditional rulers led by Eze E.C Okeke.

The  said published letter sent to Eze E.C Okeke, stated thus :

“Your Majesty Sir,

“Undersigned members from Southwest and Southsouth Zone of our Association have voluntarily dropped Eze Ndigbo Title for ONYEISI NDIGBO NA UZO IJE as title for Igbo traditional leaders in the Southwest zone of Nigeria.

MEMBERSHIP LIST OF NDI-ISI NDIGBO NA UZO IJE SOUTHWEST ZONE.

1.CHIEF JOHN-GREG OKEY EZEBUADI (IBA LCDA, LAGOS STATE) PRESIDENT.

2.CHIEF UCHE 1,C DIMGBA (IKEJA LGA, LAGOS)

3 CHIEF TONY GREGORY ANOSIKE (ONIGBONGBO LCDA, LAGOS)

4 CHIEF WILLY OKONKWO EINKEONYE (OGUN STATE)

5. CHIEF SIR GREORY ILOEHIKA (ONDO STATE)

6. CHIEF ALOY OBI (IBADAN/OYO STATE)

7 CHIEF LUKE ABASS (BENIN EDO STATE)

8.CHIEF REMI ANYAMELE (IKOS-ISHERI LGA, LAGOS).

 9.CHIEF PETER C. UMEH (MUSHIN LGA, LAGOS).

10. CHIEF OMENIFE PETER OLIKAENYI (OTTO-AWORI LCDA, LAGOS).

11. PROF OKUNANMIRI FRIDAY (IFON LGA, OGUN STATE)

12. CHIEF SIMON AMAECHI UDUIJE (AJOROMI LGA, LAGOS)

13 CHIEF EMEKA UGWAKOME (IRU LCDA, VICTORIA ISLAND).

14. CHIEF AUGUSTINE EBISI (OJODU LCDA, LAGOS STATE)

15. ALEX SUNDAY NWOYE EIGBO (EJIGBO LGA, LAGOS STATE)

16. CHIEF GERALD ONUCHUKWU, JERICHO (ETIOSA LGA, LAGOS STATE)

17. ICHIE SIR, GABBY EMEKA DIMUDE (APAPA LGA, LAGOS STATE).

18. REV IGNATIUS NTOCHUKWU UZOIGWE (IFEOKWAJO, YEWA SOUTH LGA, OGUN STATE)

19. CHIEF GODWIN NJUBIGBO (MAINLAND LGA, LAGOS STATE)

20. CHIEF EMMANUEL ALIOBU IKECHUKWU (EWEKORO LGA, OGUN STATE)

21. CHIEF CHIZOBA UGWU (IKENE LGA, OGUN STATE),

22.CHIEF AUGUSTINE SUNDAY OJUKWU (AMUWO-ODOFIN LGA, LAGOS),

23. MONDAY LAWRENCE OBI (ODIOLOWO, MUSHIN LGA LAGOS)

24. CHIEF NICOLAS NJOKU EZIOKWU BUNDU (AIGBAKA, EJIGBO LGA, LAGOS),

25. OKEKE DONATUES CHUKWUMEREGABA (IFON LGA, ONDO STATE),

26. CHIEF EMMANUEL DAMIAN OMUMUKA (ALAGBADO, AGBADO OKEODO LGA, LAGOS STATE).

27. CHIEF GODWIN OKAFOR, WINCO-FOAM (ABOYIN KETU LCDA)

29. CHIEF STEVE EMEKA DIKE (IKOTUN-IGANDO, LAGOS)

29. CHIEF IKEM W. AGBASI (ISOLO LODA LAGOS STATE)

Yours sincerely,

Chief John-Greg Okey Ezebuadi President”. Further reacting to the statement attributed to Eze Frederick Nwajagu and other oppositions ,  Onyendu Ezebuadi in a statement despatched to News Planet International, Stated thus : 
” We didn’t denounce our leadership role as Eze Ndigbo, but we decided to change the nomenclature from Eze Ndigbo to Onyendu Ndigbo and still maintain our leadership positions in our various domains”. 
According to him, “This move is in line with the request from our Royal Fathers from South East Traditional Council after various meetings and understanding to differentiate between the two . Diaspora Eze and Traditional Rulers. 
While vehemently rejecting the wrong tagging of Eze Udo title holders  as mere Chiefs , Ezebuadi explained that  their members  are leaders crowned by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Apex Social Cultural group of Ndigbo worldwide”. 
To further buttress his points , the Igbo Leader asked if anyone asked late Eze  Hyacinth Nwabueze Ohazulike to drop his throne during their earlier change of name on February 2010,  when Ambassador Ralph Uwaecheu was President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide.

Speaking on harmonious Co- existence and  Cohabitation with the host Community, Onyendu Ezebuadi ,  hinted that the change of name, was also  to create a legitimate  framework  that would  enable Igbo Leaders  work and leave in peace with their host community, especially ,following the recent Lagos State government banning of the use of the title  Eze Ndigbo, which  he  blamed on some unbearable untoward activities and  bastardization by the same rebellious  bad elements and  groups, who he said are laying unmerited claims of ” Real Ezes” , while sponsoring the writing and publications of the false narratives .
He said : “Ndigbo all over the world works with the dictates of Ohanaeze not with some associations registered as a club ,which  only exists in lagos and  no other part of world”.
Querying some of the attitudes exhibited by  those he called Bad eggs  leaders in diaspora , the  President asked , “how can a normal Igbo person with his brain still  intact ,be claiming to be Royal Highness  ,Royal Majesty, Imperial Majesty in another man’s land .Sometimes we ask ourselves , did these group of people ever went to school “?. 
Explaining the original but rigorous  and authentic process of becoming or being crowned   an Eze of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ezebuadi hinted that there must be  screening which warrants as part of the process , a visit to the  candidate Community’s Traditional Rulers,with a view  to ascertaining  if the person is a titled Chief of the community and to know what impact and  contributions he has brought to the  community ” .
He however regretted that nowadays  , “these bunch of people have desecrated the hitherto respected Ezeship institution,  as just one notorious man, lacking required credibility and honor , goes  around negotiating  with any character  who is interested to be called Eze Ndigbo, collecting as miserable as N80,000 or N100,000  from the candidate , just to issue  the person a worthless  certificate . Before Ndigbo will know what happened, the person so crowned Eze, will go and sow big gowns, moving around ,causing troubles everywhere, all over lagos”. 
Angry over what he described as a sad development, Ezebuadi reveled that ,”Some of these new generation Ezes  will even go to their village and challenge the Traditional Ruler  of their community, boasting  that they are equally Royal Highness and Majesty”. 
Acknowledging that no man is above the law , the Igbo Leader Noted  that ,”there must be strategic and significant  difference between the Seed Igbo Leaders and  Chaffs” , hence he revealed that their  main reason for  changing from Eze to Onyendu , “was also to differentiate themselves  from this group of nonchalant persons , to enable lagos state government to execute and implement their laws and regulations ,by fishing  out the recalcitrant elements and identify  those who are  destroying their  traditional institutions and causing problems between Ndigbo and lagos traditional institutions”. 
In recognition of the Calibre of Men in their Association, Ezebuadi , vowed  that his group will no longer respond to rantings by the Opposition .
He said ” Among us you can see well know and well established people in lagos state. We do not want to join issues with these people, hence our response is  only to keep the record straight, as we will never reply any of their ranting anymore. We are not their grade and we know were we belong. There is a common adage that  says , “After running then we count the mileage. Let’s see who goes down at the end of all these their  noise making”.