THE Federal Government has criticised the coronation and activities of individuals styled as Eze Ndigbo (Igbo traditional rulers) in foreign countries, describing the practice as embarrassing.
News Point Nigeria reports that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, stated this while presenting the position of the government at a meeting of Imeobi, the highest decision-making body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, held in Enugu on Thursday.
In a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze, the minister said, “The situation has become a major embarrassment to the government, Ndigbo, Nigerians, and citizens of host countries where such titles are conferred.”
Recently, violent protests erupted in South Africa’s Eastern Cape following the controversial coronation of a Nigerian Igbo leader, Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, as “Eze Ndigbo na East London” (Igbo King in East London).
The development sparked outrage among local residents, traditional leaders, and political groups, leading to unrest, the burning of foreign-owned vehicles, and looting.
Addressing the Ohanaeze Imeobi/General Assembly, the minister recalled that a similar incident occurred in Ghana in July 2025 over the Eze Ndigbo issue.
She said she had led a delegation to Accra to ease tensions following protests in which some Ghanaian groups demanded that Nigerians leave the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that cultural expression should not create conflict with host communities, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had continued to deploy diplomatic channels to address the situation in South Africa.
She said, “Aggrieved Ghanaians issued our people with a quit notice, insisting that Nigerians must leave.”
According to her, the delegation met with President John Mahama of Ghana, ministers, the Inspector-General of Police, traditional authorities across regions, and representatives of the Nigerian community.
She added that tensions eased following the intervention of President Mahama, who maintained that there was no place for xenophobia in Ghana.
Receiving President Bola Tinubu’s special envoy, led by Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at the Presidential Palace in Accra, the Ghanaian leader reaffirmed his commitment to the Economic Community of West African States protocols, particularly on the free movement of persons and goods within the region.
He also noted that the circulation of an old video made by a Nigerian resident in Ghana more than 10 years ago contributed to the tension, but said the situation was swiftly managed.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reiterated that the safety of Nigerians, their businesses, and property in Ghana could have been threatened but for the intervention of President Mahama.
The minister urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo to prescribe sanctions for individuals who violate its directive abolishing Igbo traditional rulership titles outside Igboland.
She also assured all that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would assist in disseminating the Ohanaeze communiqué on the issue through Nigeria’s missions and high commissions abroad.