CHUKA UBAH
The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, has declared the conferment and use of the title “Eze Ndigbo” outside Igbo land as invalid, warning that violators will face sanctions to be determined by traditional authorities.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mbata made the declaration on Thursday, 9th April, 2026, during the ongoing Imeobi/General Assembly meeting of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body at its secretariat in Enugu.
He explained that the decision was not unilateral but followed extensive consultations across key organs of the Igbo nation. It was reached after a joint meeting involving the National Executive Committee (NEC) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the leadership of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, ensuring broad consensus.
In a strongly worded address, the Ohanaeze leader said that the organization would formally communicate its position to state governments and diplomatic missions across the world to ensure compliance and awareness. The move is designed to prevent abuse of Igbo traditional institutions outside their cultural jurisdiction.
“Southeast is proscribing the award of the title of Eze Ndigbo outside of Igbo land. Anybody who is being awarded that type of title anywhere outside of Igbo land is on his own. It is unknown to the Igbo people,” he stated emphatically to the assembly.
He added, “We will call upon all state governors and correspond to all embassies in the world informing them about the position of Igbo”. The goal, he said, is to protect the sanctity and hierarchy of Igbo kingship structures from being diluted or misrepresented abroad.
Mbata stressed that the position of Ohanaeze was final and binding, declaring that the title, when conferred outside the South-East, would no longer be recognized by the Igbo people. This effectively strips any such title of legitimacy within the wider Igbo socio-cultural framework.
“The position of Eze Ndigbo anywhere outside Igbo land is hereby alienated and proscribed. That is the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” he said, making it clear that the ban takes immediate effect across Nigeria and the diaspora.
The President-General further disclosed that consultations are ongoing with traditional rulers across Igbo land to determine appropriate sanctions for defaulters. He emphasized that punishments would be rooted in custom and enforced by legitimate traditional authorities, not arbitrary measures.
“We will determine, in consultation with the kings of Igbo land, what the punishment will be for anybody who goes against this position, and that punishment will be implemented at your village level,” Mbata stated.
According to him, enforcement of such sanctions would be carried out through local structures, including town unions and community leadership.
“Your hometown, your town union will be under injunction to implement that punishment, but we are going to declare that punishment after due consultation,” he added.
The declaration marks a significant move by Ohanaeze to assert cultural authority and standardize traditional titles among Igbo communities both within Nigeria and in the diaspora. It aims to curb the proliferation of self-styled “Eze Ndigbo” titles that have caused friction with host communities and confusion within Igbo populations abroad.