Eze-Ndigbo title started between 10 to 12 years ago and it means 'King of Igbos'. The title became prominent due to a high numbers of people who use it and present themselves as the representatives of the Igbo people outside Igboland.

Over the years, its proliferation in Lagos became a controversial issue in which more than one person lay claim to the title in the same local government.

In some parts of the state, for instance in Mushin area of Lagos, about three people claimed to be the Eze-Ndigbo. Likewise in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, the struggle is on for the position between two people.

However, an end came to the hullabaloo over the titled which had been causing divisions and disputes between Igbo people in Diasporas when on Monday, the Lagos State government banned those who are parading themselves as the Eze-Ndigbo in Lagos.

In addition, the South-East council of traditional rulers, termed the Eze-Ndigbo phenomenon which is being struggled for, as a corruption of a monarchical system of the Ezeship in parts of Igboland and an abuse of culture and traditions.

The ban however came after the chairman of South-East council of traditional rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, had started a campaign against the activities of these title holders in various parts of Lagos. Ilomuanya's campaign was a thorough one because he led a delegation of 10 other traditional rulers from the Southeast to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. He told Akiolu that the Eze-Ndigbo phenomenon was never anything to cheer or celebrates but rather an abuse of culture and tradition.

He insisted that those parading themselves as Eze-Ndigbo outside Igboland are people generally unknown by the Igbo in the localities they reside, chosen and recognised neither by anybody nor working for any group.

He went further to request from Oba Akiolu and Lagos state government to stop granting such people recognition as Eze because "it is contrary to Igbo culture" he said.

As a matter of fact, the Igbo culture practices a stateless state in which the powers are not centralised.

A Lagos resident, Isaac Nwachuku, said that the Igbo culture is not a monarchical society and that the Eze-Ndigbo is alien to Igbo tradition. He added that those parading themselves with the title are opportunist who saw the vacuum and decided to carve the position for themselves. He also said that it is impossible for an Eze to exist in Igbo land and outside Igboland.

"Eze Ndigbo is unrecognised in Igboland, you will find out that it started about 13 years ago. This shows that it has never been in the Igbo culture and with the recent ban, it will not survive it will be extinct very soon. I think they are sycophants who are only trying to create non-cultural title for themselves that does not exist anywhere in the history of the Igbos".

Nwachukwu also said that he was in support of the ban because it does not glorify the tradition and culture of the people. "I don't support it for any Igbo person to bear the title of Eze-Ndigbo outside Igbo land. Those people don't deserve the title and situation like this does not enhance our traditions and integrity as Igbo people", he stressed, adding that those parading themselves with the title are men with low self-esteem who want to be recognised in their society and community due to their material achievement or mystical power or want to impose themselves as leaders on the people.

Also speaking on the issue, which has become a source of argument in the state since the ban on Monday, acting President General of Igbo speaking community in Lagos, Chief Chris Ekwilo, said that the South-East council of chiefs had banned the title but only wanted the Lagos state government to enforce the ban in the state. He added that the initial aim of the title outside the Igboland was to have a representative of the Igbo people in each Local Government Area that could relate and communicate the needs of the people in each Local Government Area to the government. However, some Igbo people who are hungry for power hijacked the whole intention and they started to award themselves the title while several lives have been lost over the choice of who becomes the title holder in some areas in Lagos. He added that the real traditional title holders in the East were grieved that those who answer the title in Lagos State have no base to be called by the title and such the campaign against holders of the title in Diaspora was necessitated.

He emphasised that it was during the visit of the South-East council to the Oba of Lagos that he was appointed to act as a representative of the people and inform them that the council is not against Igbo people choosing leaders to represent them wherever they are but it is just the title that they should 'drop'.

"Lagos state only amplified the directives of our traditional rulers from the east. They came all the way from East and their mission was just to instruct the Oba of Lagos that they are not comfortable with the Eze title. We actually decided that we should have a traditional ruler in each Local government, in a case our children would stay here without going home. They would be able to relate with themselves through the group. However, the traditional leaders said that the title is clashing with the title of the people at home. Some council of Obas and chiefs said they don't even know what we meant by Eze; they said that it is as if we are creating another kingdom in their own kingdom. That was the reason I was invited to represent the Igbo speaking people. They said they are not against Igbo having a ruler in other places where they are found but they are against the use of that title. They now said I should gather our people and tell them that they should pick another name" he explained.

Ekwilo advised Igbo residents in Lagos not to see the Lagos State Government as an anti-Igbo State but they are actually carrying out the position of our traditional rulers in the South-East. He encouraged the 'dethroned Eze-Ndigbo' that their services are still needed and that a new name would be chosen for them.


Generally, the Igbo people are not comfortable with the Eze-Ndigbo title; they believe that it is a revered Igbo traditional title that is reserved for autonomous community and should not be desecrated everywhere

$osisi:

This Igbo people have come again
are we going to kill ourselves for you people?

$osisi:

This Igbo people have come again
are we going to kill ourselves for you people?