The traditional leader of Ndigbo in Oto Awori LCDA, Eze Timothy Nwanoro, has debunked the claims that he was crowned Eze by the self acclaimed but disowned Igwe of Agbaja Umumba Ndiuno town in Enugu State, Chief Chukwuemwka Ugwunta, in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Eze Nwanoro made the clarification on the heels of a publication stating that Chief Ugwunta crowned him as Ezendigbo in the LCDA.
He explained that there was no time Chief Ugwunta crowned him as Ezendigbo nor participated in coronation. He stated that he was duly nominated by the Igbo Speaking Community and coronated as Ezendigbo by same group empowered to give such positions led by the BOT.
Nwanoro explained that his connection with Chief Ugwunta was an association both of them belonged to, known as INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION OF IGBO INDIGENES, NDIEZES, IGBO APEX LEADERS AND IGBO COMMUNITIES, in which both of them are BOT members of the group. He stated that Ugwunta only presented the certificate of membership of the group and did not crown him as Ezendigbo in Oto Awori LCDA.
Eze Nwanoro explained that the clarification was very important to set the record straight that he was duly and legitimately nominated by the Igbo Speaking Community, which crowned him accordingly.
He also noted that before he knew Ugwunta, he had already been crowned as Eze and besides, they knew him as Eze and therefore, Eze cannot crown another Eze in line with Igbo culture and tradition.
This was earlier confirmed by the BOT Chairman of the Igbo Speaking Community, Dr Jonathan Nnaji, recognizing him as the Eze in that particular area in the State, having met certain requirements including rigorous screening and background checks of his person.
He explained that one of the requirements is that there must be a letter from the person’s traditional ruler from his hometown identifying and confirming the character of such person and must meet other conditions including proof that he was actually crowned Ezendigbo by the Igbo Speaking community.
Dr Nnaji explained that Eze Timothy Nwanoro has gone through the rigorous process and the BOT confirmed him.
The issue of Ugwunta crowning him as Ezendigbo does not arise because Ugwunta does not live in Lagos State and not even a member of the Igbo Speaking Community.
This may have been the reason Eze Ambassador Nwanoro, who is also Eze Diaba Ogbe Agu 2, has been celebrating new yam festival in Oto Awori LCDA in conjunction with the Igbo Speaking community and Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the LCDA