The Ezendigbo in Awuwo Odofin, Eze Augustine Ojukwu, may have been removed following the conferment and recognition of Prosper Chukwuka as Eze Ndigbo (Igwe) Amuwo Odofin and FESTAC town by the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Igbo Speaking Community led by Chief Sunday Udeh crowned Eze Prosper Chukwuka and gave him certificate recognizing him as Ezendigbo of FESTAC town and Amuwo Odofin.
What would have led the Igbo Speaking community to have taken such decision was not known but the certificate sighted by P.M.EXPRESS and signed by the President of the association, Chief Sunday Udeh and the General Secretary, Engr. Chukwuma Odimegwu, stated clearly that they recognized Eze Prosper as Ezendigbo, Amuwo Odifin and FESTAC town.
The certificate issued to Eze Prosper Chukwuka surfaced online, which has thrown the Igbo in Amuwo Odofin into confusion as to who they will give allegiance between Eze Ojukwu and Eze Chukwuka.
It was gathered that Ojukwu was crowned Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin and had operated as Ezendigbo and had his New Yam festival over the years before Eze Chukwuka was conferred Ezendigbo in 2023.
The President of the Igbo Speaking Community, Chief Udeh, could not be reached for comment to know if he had started reorganization of Ezendigbo in Lagos State by removing Ojukwu and installing Chukwuka as Ezendigbo of Amuwo Odofin.
However, the General Secretary of Speaking Community, Engr. Odimegwu, was said to have reacted by allegedly lying after the certificate issued to Chukwuka surfaced online duly signed by him and Chief Udeh, recognizing Chukwuka as both Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin and FESTAC town.
In the press statement purportedly released by Odimegwu, he said:
“The Attention Of the Secretariat, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos has been drawn to a Certificate going round on the Social Media Conferring on Eze Ndigbo FESTAC, Eze Prosper Chukwuka as Eze Ndigbo (Igwe) Amuwo Odofin.”
“The Secretariat, Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos uses this medium to state categorically that at no time did the Community carry out Ezeship Conferement of Amuwo Odofin on Eze Prosper Chukwuka, Eze Omeihiukwu, but for Eze Ndigbo Of FESTAC.”
“The said signature on the certificate was signed in error by a single signatory, which ought to be two after observing the typing mistakes by the printing company on the Certificate.”
The Community asks that the said Certificate should be disregarded since it only bears a single signature, which makes it invalid.”
“Eze Prosper Chukwuka is the Eze Ndigbo Of FESTAC Town and has been performing his duties as enshrined in the Constitution guiding the Ezeship by the Community in Lagos. The Community calls for peace and unity amongst Ndigbo for a greater FESTAC.”
However, the purported press release from Engr. Odimegwu was not signed and he has equally denied that he did not call any press conference when he was contacted by the press.
Engr. Odimegwu may be right by denying that he did not make any press release because he indicted the President of the Igbo Speaking Community, Chief Udeh and lied that the certificate issued to Eze Prosper Chukwuka was signed by a single person whereas it was signed by him and Udeh.