Igbo Speaking Community PG ,Executive, Disown ‘Ndigbo Media Forum’, Counsel Senator John Mbata Over Eze Ndigbo Title Ban

By Daniel Ohamadike

President General (PG) and Secretary General of the Igbo  Speaking Community in Lagos State, Chief Dr. Sunday Udeh and Prince Joshua Kalu, have Disowned the operation and existence of  “Ndigbo Media Forum” group,stating that it is alien to the Association and is not an arm of Igbo Speaking Community in their Constitution.

 Discrediting “Ndigbo Media Forum” and it’s purported public notice summoning and calling on all Ndieze crowned by Igbo Speaking Community ,to submit their certificates and credentials for vetting and regularization, Chief Udeh ,who was obviously enraged by the publication ,which he described as fake ,fraudulent and an affront to his office as PG , called the Media  Forum, ” fake  bunch of fraudsters masquerading as Igbo Speaking Community members”.

This is even as Chief Udeh , took time to advise the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide, Senator John Azuta – Mbata , to jettison his recent Anti Igbo Cultural declaration and  desist heating up the polity, with his purported banning of Eze Ndigbo Title in diaspora.

The Igbo Leader therefore Challenged Senator Mbata to focus on issues affecting and concerning Ndigbo politically and developmental strides and fashion Credible Agenda For Igbo Nation, especially as Nigeria approachs 2027 elections.

In his Disclaimer, Chief Udeh , who reiterated that Igbo Speaking Community is not ” an open Jankara Market Place” ,where anyone can dash in and out, urged the public, especially Ndieze under his Community , to be wary of the antics of fraudsters and 419, who he said have formed “Ndigbo Media Forum” , ostensibly to hoodwink and defraud his real members .

 Visibly angry and dissatisfied with the announcement by the “Ndigbo Media Forum”, he called out the Forums Director of Publicity ,Chief Cyriacus Izuekwe , warning him to desist from intruding into the affairs of the Community or face the legal consequences .

He publicly debunked the Forum announcement , disassociating his Executive and the community from such unapproved and none existing demand of certificate from Ndieze.

Speaking through a voice note and in an interview with News Planet International, Chief Udeh , stated thus :  “The office of the President General and his  executive , remain intact,nobody can trade with such office. We are a registered Association with the Corporate Affairs Commission .The  Public should be wary of 419, because it comes in different forms,I don’t know why someone who is not a member of the community , went and formed a Media forum and began to demand certificate from our Ndieze , On what Authority ?, he is not a member, his name is not in any register of our community .Because Lagos is a hustling center , where any one can register anything to extort the public. Nobody has the right to wake up in the morning and demand Ndieze to submit their certificates to him ,except the President General of the Association. How can someone dabble into an organization that doest not concern him”?, he asked.

Reflecting on his contributions , Udeh who explained that his administration as PG of the Community , is barely six months,said he has sacrificed greatly for Ndigbo in Lagos and cannot be tossed up and down, warning that his silence over many publications smearing the integrity of his office and image , should not be taken for granted.

In his own reaction, the Secretary General , Prince Joshua Kalu,lashed at Chief Izuekwe , warning him thus : “Attention.  Mr Cyracus Izuekwe,In view of the above Message that you are Circulating on Various platforms requesting for the PARTICULARS of  Ndieze that were crowned by Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos , I hereby warn you to desist from such act. The Current leadership will not condone.  Such  attitude from  you”.

Giving  graphic account of his growth and ascension in Igbo Speaking  Community over the years, Udeh said he was once Vice Chairman Lagos Mainland, when Dr. Jonathan Nnaji was President ,later rose to Chairman , Mainland , then became  Chairman  of all Chairmen for 8 years, which he said was a contraption that was not in the Constitution, but was a child of necessity, formed by his humble  Self, late Chief Chris Ugwunani and Chief Christopher Okpara from Apapa, to enable and fast track Igbo Speaking mobilization. 

He also said he was once Vice President and Deputy President under Chief Ebere Ubani’s tenure, now Eze in the South East .

Speaking on the recent publication concerning the purported banning of Eze Ndigbo in Diaspora, which was credited to the Community’s Board Of Trustees ,BOT Chairman, Dr. Jonathan Nnaji, Udeh, commended the report and  expressed his support for Nnaji’s prompt clarifications about the Igbo Speaking Community.

Highlighting the gains of Eze Ndigbo titles and their installation in lagos , he pointed out the recent intervention by Eze Chika Nwokedi, of Ijegun and Ijadodo ,who he commended for his prompt intervention that quelled the looming inter ethnic crisis at Ijegamo area of lagos.

Defending Igbo Speaking Crowning of Eze Ndigbo in Lagos State,  Chief Udeh, cited Eze Nwokedi’s intervention at Ijegamo, as a case study and one of the primary reasons that prompted the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos to register their Association and enshrine the installation of Eze Ndigbo in various localities in Lagos, into their constitution.

Insisting that Eze Ndigbo is a veritable tool to checkmate possible excesses  by their members, resolve inter – ethnic disputes as well as to build bridges across ethnic groups and boundaries.

He therefore urged all Ndieze under his Community not to panic over Ohanaeze Ndigbo banning of their own Ndieze, but should  remain  focused and calm for further directions , until their upcoming Stakeholders conference, which he said  will includes Patrons, Ndieze, local government and Members.

Udeh, noted that the only  delay holding back the stakeholders meeting ,is the absence of Dr. Nnaji,the Community’s BOT Chairman, who he said is away on medical trip abroad.

Expressing optimism , he added that the Association will emerge stronger and speak with one voice after the proposed general meeting, considering that there would be an X-ray of the community’s Constitution, where invited legal experts , will interpret the duties of all offices as provided for in their constitution.

It would be recalled that the Ndigbo Media Forum  Director of Publicity , Chief Izuekwe, recently announced their compilation of the names of Igbo Speaking community Ndieze in Lagos State, for record purposes, this he said was to enable and determine the remaining number of Ndieze, after Ohanaeze Ndigbo purportedly  banned their Ezendigbo in Lagos State . 

In his public notice , Chief Izuekwe, had given seven days ultimatum for the exercise, demanding Certificate of proof of Ezeship coronation, from all Ndieze’s of Igbo Speaking Community, as his  condition ,in line with their constitution.