KINGSLEY EBERE
The number of Ndieze in Lagos and Ogun States has reduced drastically following the denouncement of over 30 Ezendigbo title holders who may have lost their throne and became ordinary chieftaincy title holders in their various Local Council Areas in the States.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the denouncements were made following a letter written and signed by the President of Southwest traditional rulers in diaspora, now Chief John-Greg Okey Ezebuadi to the Southeast traditional rulers led by Eze E.C Okeke.
The letter sent to Eze E.C Okeke, which was sighted by P.M.EXPRESS stated:
“Your Majesty Sir,
“Undersigned members from Southwest and Southsouth Zone of our Association have voluntarily dropped Eze Ndigbo Title for ONYEISI NDIGBO NA UZO IJE as title for Igbo traditional leaders in the Southwest zone of Nigeria.
MEMBERSHIP LIST OF NDI-ISI NDIGBO NA UZO IJE SOUTHWEST ZONE.
1.CHIEF JOHN-GREG OKEY EZEBUADI (IBA LCDA, LAGOS STATE) PRESIDENT.
2.CHIEF UCHE 1,C DIMGBA (IKEJA LGA, LAGOS)
3 CHIEF TONY GREGORY ANOSIKE (ONIGBONGBO LCDA, LAGOS)
4 CHIEF WILLY OKONKWO EINKEONYE (OGUN STATE)
5. CHIEF SIR GREORY ILOEHIKA (ONDO STATE)
6. CHIEF ALOY OBI (IBADAN/OYO STATE)
7 CHIEF LUKE ABASS (BENIN EDO STATE)
8.CHIEF REMI ANYAMELE (IKOS-ISHERI LGA, LAGOS).
9.CHIEF PETER C. UMEH (MUSHIN LGA, LAGOS).
10. CHIEF OMENIFE PETER OLIKAENYI (OTTO-AWORI LCDA, LAGOS).
11. PROF OKUNANMIRI FRIDAY (IFON LGA, OGUN STATE)
12. CHIEF SIMON AMAECHI UDUIJE (AJOROMI LGA, LAGOS)
13 CHIEF EMEKA UGWAKOME (IRU LCDA, VICTORIA ISLAND).
14. CHIEF AUGUSTINE EBISI (OJODU LCDA, LAGOS STATE)
15. ALEX SUNDAY NWOYE EIGBO (EJIGBO LGA, LAGOS STATE)
16. CHIEF GERALD ONUCHUKWU, JERICHO (ETIOSA LGA, LAGOS STATE)
17. ICHIE SIR, GABBY EMEKA DIMUDE (APAPA LGA, LAGOS STATE).
18. REV IGNATIUS NTOCHUKWU UZOIGWE (IFEOKWAJO, YEWA SOUTH LGA, OGUN STATE)
19. CHIEF GODWIN NJUBIGBO (MAINLAND LGA, LAGOS STATE)
20. CHIEF EMMANUEL ALIOBU IKECHUKWU (EWEKORO LGA, OGUN STATE)
21. CHIEF CHIZOBA UGWU (IKENE LGA, OGUN STATE),
22.CHIEF AUGUSTINE SUNDAY OJUKWU (AMUWO-ODOFIN LGA, LAGOS),
23. MONDAY LAWRENCE OBI (ODIOLOWO, MUSHIN LGA LAGOS)
24. CHIEF NICOLAS NJOKU EZIOKWU BUNDU (AIGBAKA, EJIGBO LGA, LAGOS),
25. OKEKE DONATUES CHUKWUMEREGABA (IFON LGA, ONDO STATE),
26. CHIEF EMMANUEL DAMIAN OMUMUKA (ALAGBADO, AGBADO OKEODO LGA, LAGOS STATE).
27. CHIEF GODWIN OKAFOR, WINCO-FOAM (ABOYIN KETU LCDA)
29. CHIEF STEVE EMEKA DIKE (IKOTUN-IGANDO, LAGOS)
29. CHIEF IKEM W. AGBASI (ISOLO LODA LAGOS STATE)
Yours sincerely,
Chief John-Greg Okey Ezebuadi President”
There has been reactions since the list was released on the social media among the Ndieze. Ezendigbo in Ajao Estate, HIM, Igwe Fredrick Nwajagu, described what happened as a Divine purpose to separate the grain from the chaff.
He explained that he had earlier said that those set of people known as Eze Udo, were never crowned Ezendigbo, they were Chiefs created by the Late Ezendigbo, Lagos State, Eze Hyacinth Ohazuruike for administrative convenience. He stated that since the creator of the position (Eze Udo) has passed on, the title was dead already.
They gladly accepted to answer Chieftaincy title because they were not Eze and have been constituting nuisance in Lagos State painting the image of Ndigbo black in the State.
Among the listed names, it was only the Ezendigbo in Ejigbo LCDA, Eze Dr Alex Sunday Nwoye that has reacted. He said he was not aware of the contents of the list submitted that has reversed his position to ordinary Chief whereas he was duly crowned as Igbo leader in Ejigbo. He insisted that he is still Eze Alex Sunday Nwoye (Onyendu) Ndigbo in Ejigbo.