The Board of Trustees of the Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos State, has disowned Eze Peter Olikenyi and described him as one of the title chiefs given by the late Ezendigbo Eze Hyacinth Ohazuruike and declared Eze Elder Timothy Nwanoro as the authentic Ezendigbo in Oto Awori LCDA.
In an exclusive interview granted P.M.EXPRESS by the Chairman of the. Board of Trustees of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos, Dr Jonathan Nnaji, he addressed recent allegations made by Eze Udo Peter Olikenyi, who claimed to be the Eze Ndigbo of Ota Awori.
The interview sheds more light on the controversy surrounding Olikenyi’s claims and the Igbo Speaking Community’s stance on the matter.
Good day Sir. As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, how has it been since you took office?
It has been going on very well, to God be the glory.
Sir, there was an online publication, where Eze Udo Peter Olikenyi accused you of brewing crisis amongst brothers by installing another Eze in Ota Awori. What is your comment concerning the allegations?
My dear, I don’t really understand what exactly he’s talking about. The Board of Trustees doesn’t install Eze Ndigbo; what we do is profile any Eze Ndigbo in Lagos that was installed without our knowledge to ascertain that due process was followed according to the constitution of the Igbo Speaking Community, which we are the custodians.
Is Eze Udo Peter Olikenyi the Eze Ndigbo of Ota Awori in the records of the Igbo Speaking Community Board of Trustees?
My dear, I respect Eze Udo, Eze Peter Olikenyi. I read what he published where he confirmed that he was installed by the late Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike, the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos, of blessed memories. May his soul rest in peace. As an Igbo man, does an Eze in Igbo land crown another Eze? The answer is a capital NO. So, whatever he may have been given by Eze Ohazulike is nothing more than a chief or high chief.
Eze Olikenyi claimed that you were present the day he was crowned Eze Ndigbo of Ota Awori in Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike’s palace and that he gave you N50,000 that very day. What do you have to say about that claim Sir?
Honestly, I don’t know what he’s talking about. Number one, an Eze Ndigbo crowned by the Igbo Speaking Community can only be done in the person’s own house, not in the late Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike’s house. I don’t know what he’s talking about giving me N50,000. Please ask him what the money was for, if I may ask? But to answer your question, I didn’t receive one kobo from him.
Does the Igbo Speaking Community crown Eze Udo?
My dear, we don’t. We only crown Eze Ndigbo. Remember that I earlier said that what I believe he must have gotten from his Highness, the late Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike, is a chief or a high chief title because an Eze in Igbo land can only be crowned in his house, not in another Igwe’s house. The Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos follows the culture and traditions of our fatherland.
Eze Olikenyi alleged that you installed another Eze in Ota Awori by the name Timothy Eberechukwu Nwanoro, who happened to be Onowu in his palace. How will you respond to that?
In the year he mentioned that he was installed Eze Udo, not Eze Ndigbo, I happened to be the President General of the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos. As the President General, I make bold to say that he’s not an Eze Ndigbo crowned by the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos. Remember that I earlier mentioned that Eze Udo is a chieftaincy title. How can he be talking of having an Onowu when he’s not an Eze installed by the Igbo Speaking Community? If I may ask, do chiefs have Onowu? The answer is a capital NO.
The Board has profiled Eze Timothy Eberechukwu Nwanoro, all the required documents submitted to the board and at the end he was reconfirmed by the Board as the Eze Ndigbo of Ota Awori crowned by the Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos.
What’s your advice to the Eze Ndigbo recognised by the Igbo Speaking Community Board of Trustees?
I advise them to continue to respect the culture and traditions of the owners of the land of Lagos State. To respect the constitution as laid down by Lagos State Government. To respect the Obas who are the traditional royal fathers of the land. To make sure that the Igbo community in their area lives in peace and harmony with indigenes and other non-indigenes living with them. To see that our Igbo culture and traditions don’t die.