Igbo General Assembly asks Olubadan to ban ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title in Ibadan
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
The Igbo General Assembly an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Thursday gave its support to the ban on the usage of ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title outside Igboland and asked the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odugade Odulana “to stop usage of Eze title in Ibadanland.
Rising from a meeting in Ibadan, the President-General of Igbo General Assembly in Oyo State, Chief Emeka Enwereonye declared that there was no basis for the usage of ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title by Igbos residing in non-Igbo states across the Federation.
Chief Enwereonye told journalists that banning usage of Eze title in non-Igbo states across the federation was “in compliance with the directives of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide that Onyendu is the only approved title for traditional Igbo leaders outside Igboland.”
“The ‘Eze’ remains the exclusive royal title of Kings in autonomous communities and kingdoms in Igboland. The stand of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers in the matter is clear,” he said.
The President however circulated a signed document from the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, dated February 20, 2008, which contained the resolution banning, with immediate effect, the use of the title ‘Eze Ndigbo’ by Igbos residing in non-Igbo states to newsmen.
“We believe that total compliance with this directive by the traditional leaders of Ndigbo outside Igboland will save us a lot of embarrassment and at times conflicts in various locations where we reside outside Igboland.”
The Assembly however urged the Olubadan of Ibadanland,Oba Samuel Odugade Odulana “to put his feet down on the matter and say you can’t be a King within my kingdom.”
