KINGSLEY EBERE
The President General of the Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos State, Chief Sunday Udeh, has apologized and confirmed that Eze Peter Olikenyi Omenife is the authentic Ezendigbo in Oto Awori LCDA.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Ude stated this on the heels of his earlier statements that the position of Ezendigbo in Oto Awori LCDA was vacant following a petition by Eze Omenife over the crowning of two Ezendigbo in the two communities in Ottor Awori LCDA.
Chief Udeh, in the voice note conversations between him and Omenife, acknowledged that Omenife is his brother because they shared boundary in Anambra State, stating that he will not work against his interest and noted that he had made mistakes in the past while urging him to forget the past so that they can continue their fluid relationship.
Eze Omenife accepted his apology and advised him against indiscrimate crowning of Ezendigbo in communities, which is tantamount to balkanization of Ezendigbo stool.
Meanwhile, the Igbo Speaking Community in Oto Awori has rejected the crowning of Ezendigbo in Ketu and Imude communities in Oto-Awori LCDA.
In the press release titled: IGBO SPEAKING COMMUNITY REJECTS SHAM EZES IN OTO-AWORI, UPHOLDS EZE DR. PETER OLIKENYI OMENIFE STOOL, it stated:
“The Igbo Speaking Community in Oto-Awori has taken a firm stance against the recent attempts to impose illegitimate Ezes in the Imude and Ketu areas of the Oto-Awori LCDA. In a bold move, the community has reaffirmed its unwavering support for Eze Dr. Peter Olikenyi Omenife as the only recognized Eze Igbo Oto-Awori installed appropriately by the people in conjunction with the leaders of both Ohanaeze and endorsed by the Igbo Speaking Community Lagos.”
“This decision comes on the heels of a sham coronation ceremony orchestrated by a few state executives of the Igbo Speaking Community, led by controversial outgoing President General Chief Sunday Udeh. However, the community has vehemently rejected this move, citing the lack of consultation with the Oto-Awori LCDA chapter Chairman, Comrade Pat Obiano, and the Zonal Chairman of the zones involved.”
According to sources, the community has been inundated with petitions and communiques protesting the illegitimate coronation. The Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Jonathan Nnaji, has also dissociated himself and the BoT from the shameful conduct and is currently investigating the matter.
It will be recalled that Eze Dr Peter Olikenyi Omenife (Ide) was on the 6th of March, 2004 coronated as the Eze Udo Oto-Awori LCDA by Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and by that became the 4th Individual to be decorated as Eze Igbo in Lagos State and subsequently confirmed with native titles from the Palace of Oni Ijanikin as the *Atoyeje Of Ijanikin Kingdom on 30th November, 2008 and Ajitana Aje of Oto Awori Kingdom of Oloto kingdom on 18th March, 2008.
Eze Omenife also showed proof through the giving of award to Chief Sunday Udeh during his celebration of his New Yam festival far back on 2nd November, 2019 at his Palace.