₦airaland Forum

The installation of a Nigerian traditional leader, Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu, as ‘Eze Ndi Igbo Ghana’ (King of the Igbo People in Ghana) has triggered widespread protests and public outcry across parts of Ghana.


The development, which has drawn criticism from youth groups and cultural advocates, is being opposed by protesters who say the presence of a foreign monarch undermines Ghana’s sovereignty and traditional chieftaincy institutions.

Protesters in Accra and parts of the Eastern Region were seen carrying placards with messages such as ‘No Foreign Thrones in Ghana’ and ‘Honour Our Heritage’.


Their concerns were amplified after photos of Eze Ihenetu’s elaborate palace in Accra surfaced online, featuring regal emblems and traditional architecture.

DAILY POST reports that the title of ‘Eze Ndi Igbo’ is commonly used within Igbo communities abroad as a symbolic cultural institution.

However, critics in Ghana argue that the creation of such thrones by foreigners could set a precedent for parallel leadership structures within the country.



There have also been unconfirmed reports that the Igbo leader is planning to establish a 50-acre ‘Igbo kingdom’ in Old Ningo, further fuelling suspicion among some Ghanaians.

Alleged land acquisitions by the Igbo community have added to these concerns, although no official evidence has been provided.

Public reactions intensified following the circulation of a video showing Ghanaian broadcaster Captain Smart kneeling before Eze Ihenetu during a public ceremony. The footage, which has gone viral, has sparked heated debate on social media.


Some citizens are calling on the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to intervene and clarify whether Ghanaian laws permit foreigners to hold royal titles on Ghanaian soil.

In response to the controversy, Eze Chukwudi Ihenetu has defended his position, stating that the role is ceremonial and meant solely to unify the Igbo community in Ghana.

“The throne of the Diasporan Igbo in Ghana is meant to protect, defend and project the Igbo people and Nigerians as a whole. We have no political authority or territorial ambitions in Ghana. This is purely cultural,” he said in a recent interview.


https://www.tiktok.com/video/7526971874132315398/

What is your opinion guys. As a Nigerian, I want us to be driven home to force develop our country. When we are covered with no place to run to anymore, we will be forced to develop our country. So, I am with Ghana on this.

Also for the records, I do not agree with the installation of kings outside your country of origin, it will only serve to agravate the host community and, serves little purpose to help other Nigerians in Ghana.

A massive protest is slated for the 19th of July and some landlords are already sending Nigerians away.

I thought naira gat no value, where Igbo gat money to buy 50 acre of land??

funshint:
E be like say time don reach to dey pick Igbos out by ourselves in this kain matter. Thesame thing they did in UAE that led to the expulsion of all Nigerians by the govt. We can't continue to suffer collective punishment because of the senselessness and misdeeds of these people in other countries.

You are part of the problem, brother, you may not even know it. When the shit hits the fan, it will affect every Nigerian, and no way to distinguish Igbos from other Nigerians. Tribalism is killing us and has never benefited the average Nigerian.

funshint:
E be like say time don reach to dey pick Igbos out by ourselves in this kain matter. Thesame thing they did in UAE that led to the expulsion of all Nigerians by the govt. We can't continue to suffer collective punishment because of the senselessness and misdeeds of these people in other countries.

They're slitting the throats of your people in Saudi Arabia. I hope you're aware of that. Maybe those unfortunate ones are giving Nigeria some good publicity over there too..

muyico:
I thought naira gat no value, where Igbo gat money to buy 50 acre of land??

The Naira has more purchasing power in Nigeria than the Cedi in Ghana. The individual has been in Ghana for more than thirty years with a Ghanaian wife and kids.

Make it snappy

tutudesz:
Their obsession with having kings in every where is too much, I would be surprised to hear there is a king in Afghanistan

The problem is , king is a nonentity in Nigeria. Nobody knows the guy. everyone that makes small money in my tribe wants to make himself a king.

The people that created this social media use it for education.


Everyday u people will be using it to showcase tribalism to the whole world.

Nnamdipapa:
The problem is , king is a nonentity in Nigeria. Nobody knows the guy. everyone that makes small money in my tribe wants to make himself a king.

Than something must been done to stop this trend, before the youth reacts badly.

tutudesz:
Than something must been done to stop this trend, before the youth reacts badly.

The youths are already out for blood. They have a video of the guy being addressed as "your highness" by the former Ghanaian president. He also has connections with Ghanaian leaders, which is why the youth are very angry. It is a very useless trend which has zero benefits.

Nnamdipapa:
The youths are already out for blood. They have a video of the guy being addressed as "your highness" by the former Ghanaian president. He also has connections with Ghanaian leaders, which is why the youth are very angry. It is a very useless trend which has zero benefits.

The Igbo community should withdraw support for him or cancel it, Because they will be the ones to receive the backlash.
If he really cares about his people, he will stop this rubbish immediately.

They deported Nigerians in 1969( my grandparents and parents from both side were impacted) . Over 200k Nigerians

Nigeria also deported them in the early 80s during Shagari.

Nothing new

ednut1:
They deported Nigerians in 1969( my grandparents and parents from both side were impacted) . Over 200k Nigerians

Nigeria also deported them in the early 80s during Shagari.

Nothing new

The yorubas championed that Ghana - must - go drive back then because they were feeling insecure with Ghanaian cornering all the juicy jobs and appointments in lagos via merit

If Igbos weren't already nigerians you know what could have happened to them all those years ago too they still chant the slogan till today

SeeWahala:
The yorubas championed that Ghana - must - go drive back then because they were feeling insecure with Ghanaian cornering all the juicy jobs and appointments in lagos via merit

If Igbos weren't already nigerians you know what could have happened to them all those years ago too they still chant the slogan till today

Most of the Ghanaians then were living in and taking up jobs in the western parts of Nigeria. It was the government of Nigeria at the time that was ultimately responsible for the decision. The case of Nigerians in Ghana now is totally different from Ghanaians in Nigeria. Ghanaians in Nigeria were taking up Nigerian jobs, they worked in the civil services, schools, companies and took up jobs that would have gone to Nigerians.

On the other hand, Nigerians in Ghana are mostly self-employed, working in businesses they created and never employed by Ghanaians so are not really burdens on the country. We are not taking up Ghanaians jobs like they did when they were in Nigeria, we are never taking up Ghanaians jobs like they did in Nigeria. Till today, there is an estimate of 45,000 Ghanaians living in Nigeria.

What merit are you talking about?

muyico:
I thought naira gat no value, where Igbo gat money to buy 50 acre of land??

Probably better a economy/ business environment to thrive.

At this point in human development and evolution, installation of 'kings' in foreign lands is outright senseless. Only leads to suspicion and strain in relationship with the hosts.

How about the Hausas, Yorubas, Igalas, Edo's, Ijaws living in Ghana installing their own 'kings' and building palaces?

How many Ghanian kings do we have in Nigeria?

SeeWahala:
The yorubas championed that Ghana - must - go drive back then because they were feeling insecure with Ghanaian cornering all the juicy jobs and appointments in lagos via merit

If Igbos weren't already nigerians you know what could have happened to them all those years ago too they still chant the slogan till today

yoruba man wasn’t killed not president or vice president. So carry this nonsense talk away from here. Nigeria was under economic crisis that continued into buhari and babangida regimes.

If the laws of Ghana says no, then any attempt to install him in Ghana becomes illegal.
They will deal with him and his subject decisively.
They should seek wide and legal consultation before installing him.

funshint:
Igbo identity don dey cast now. Go to Malaysia or Indonesia the authorities can now distinguish Igbos from the rest of Nigerians. You people should continue with your anyhowness let see where it will take you people to.

I carry a foreign passport and can go anywhere in the world I like without visas for the most part and have visited lots of countries. The only time I use a Nigerian passport is when coming into Nigeria.