The Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State has said that it will begin withdrawing Eze certificates issued to individuals found to have questionable characters or no legitimate claim to the title in the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the decision was disclosed by the President General of the community, Chief Sunday Udeh, who said that the executives will work with the BOT to sanitize the entire structure of Ezeship of the Igbo Speaking Community.
He explained that the decision aligns with the position of the Lagos State Government on traditional titles and community representation.
Chief Udeh stated that the exercise is aimed at sanitizing the institution of Ndieze in Lagos and restoring its credibility among Igbo residents and host communities to avoid what happened in the 2023 election from repeating itself in 2027.
He noted that many holders of the title were not properly vetted before receiving certificates.
According to him, some of those parading themselves as Eze are “fake” and have engaged in conducts that do not reflect the values of the Igbo people or the expectations of the state government.
Udeh explained that the community has received complaints from both Igbo residents and Lagos authorities about individuals using the title to misrepresent the community in public and private matters.
The President General said that the community would set up a verification committee to review all existing certificates and recommend those to be withdrawn.
He added that only persons with proven integrity and community service would be recognized going forward.
Chief Udeh stressed that the move is not targeted at any ethnic group or intended to cause division, but to ensure that traditional representation is handled responsibly within the framework of Lagos State laws.
He called on genuine traditional leaders and Igbo stakeholders in Lagos to cooperate with the process, saying it would strengthen unity and prevent impersonation.
The Lagos State Government has in recent years emphasized that traditional titles must not be used to create parallel authorities or disrupt public order. The state has also warned against the proliferation of unauthorized chieftaincy titles in non-indigenous communities.
The Igbo Speaking Community said it would communicate the outcome of the review to relevant government agencies once completed. Members of the public with information on questionable title holders have been asked to submit evidence to the community’s secretariat.