I’ll Decide Who Will Become New Ezendigbo In Lagos – Chief Chris Ekwilo Says 

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The former President of the Igbo Speaking Community and Chairman of Ndigbo in APC, Lagos State,  Chief Chris Ekwilo, has stated that he will play very prominent role as an Igbo king maker in deciding who will become the new Ezendigbo in the State when the time comes. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Chief Ekwilo reiterated this at Okija town hall in Amuwo Odofin at the weekend during the 25th wedding anniversary and new yam festival of Chief Ejike Okezie, Mmiri Di Iche.

Chief Ekwilo, who holds the title of Ichie and Ozo in his Ezinifite town in Aguata Local government Area of Anambra State, explained that he was among the five King makers appointed by the late Ezendigbo Gburugburu, Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, to install kings in diaspora.

He explained that out of the five King makers, he is among the few survivors that will decide the new Ezendigbo in Lagos State.

However, Chief Ekwilo stated that the time has not come and cautioned those who are campaigning for Ezendigbo for restraint because the final burial and mourning period of the late Eze Hyacinth Ohazuruike has not been concluded.

On how he became a King maker, he explained that he was a foundation member of the Igbo Speaking Community and Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State. And when the issue of crowning Ezendigbo in Diaspora came up, he was among the five King makers graciously appointed by Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

He explained that the king makers played important roles in the emergence of late Ohazuruike as Ezendigbo of Lagos State and noted that some of the King makers have passed on and the responsibility is solely on him to  summon a meeting of the the Igbo leaders and critical stakeholders to nominate and crown Ezendigbo in Lagos State when the time comes.

The quest for the next Ezendigbo Lagos State manifested during the last Ofalla festival of Late Ohazuruike, where the contenders with their support turned out in good numbers to register their presence with subtle campaigns.

The top three among the nominees by Ndigbo are the Chairman of Council of Ezendigbo, Eze Dr Chika Nwokedi, Eze Udo, Eze Uche Dimgba and Eze Lawrence Nnamdi Eze. While the Council of Ezendigbo, the group led by Nwokedi, has endorsed him, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State,  Chief Solomon  Aguene has endorsed Eze Uche Dimgba and some Igbo leaders have as well endorsed Eze Lawrence for the position.

While the subtle campaigns are going  among the supporters of the nominees, the Igbo Speaking Community BOT led by Dr Jonathan Nnaji and the President General, Chief Sunday Udeh have not said anything concerning the issue of new Ezendigbo. It was not certain if it was the mourning period for the late Ohazuruike that made them not to address the matter.

However, what is certain is that it was the Igbo Speaking Community that crowned the late Ohazuruike and the responsibility rests on the Igbo Speaking Community to crown the new Ezendigbo as derived from the Constitution of the community created by the Act of Parliament in Nigeria.

It was not yet clear what the relationship is between the Igbo Speaking Community and King makers led by Chief Chris Ekwilo on the crowning of the new Ezendigbo in Lagos State.