A prominent Igbo traditional leader in the diaspora, His Highness Ezeigbo Nkem-Alakammadu, has issued a strongly worded rebuttal to the Federal Government and Ohanaeze Ndigbo following recent moves to ban or delegitimize the use of the “Eze Ndigbo” title outside Nigeria.
In a “Royal Proclamation and International Position Statement” released for global circulation, the Canada-based monarch defended the legitimacy of the Ezeigbo institution in the diaspora, describing attempts to abolish or restrict it as “legally baseless” and lacking jurisdiction.
The statement emphasized that no Nigerian authority — including government agencies, socio-cultural groups, or traditional councils within Igboland — has constitutional or customary powers beyond Nigeria’s territorial borders.
“Under international law, sovereignty is territorial. Cultural expression outside a state’s borders falls under the jurisdiction of the host nation, not the country of origin,” the proclamation stated.
Ezeigbo Nkem-Alakammadu further argued that diaspora leadership structures such as Eze Ndigbo operate strictly within cultural and community frameworks, exercising no political or governmental authority that could conflict with host nations.
Citing legal protections in countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom, he noted that freedoms of association, expression, and cultural identity safeguard the right of Igbo communities abroad to organize and adopt traditional titles.
The monarch also dismissed concerns that the use of the title “Eze” could undermine state authority, describing such claims as “false, misleading, and legally unfounded.”
On the controversy surrounding nomenclature, particularly suggestions to replace “Eze” with alternatives like “Onyendu,” he described the debate as superficial.
“The disagreement is not about function but merely terminology. No authority has demonstrated any law prohibiting the use of ‘Eze’ outside Igboland,” he said.
Highlighting the evolving nature of Igbo traditions, the statement noted that cultural practices have long adapted to changing environments, including in diaspora settings.
The Ezeigbo maintained that the institution plays a vital role in uniting Igbo communities abroad, promoting cultural preservation, resolving disputes, and sustaining language and identity across generations.
He also criticized what he described as misplaced priorities, arguing that efforts to suppress diaspora leadership detract from addressing pressing challenges within Nigeria, including economic hardship and governance issues.
In a firm closing declaration, the monarch asserted that the Ezeigbo institution in the diaspora remains “lawful, legitimate, and culturally necessary,” insisting that no external body has the authority to abolish or redefine it.
He called on Igbo leaders worldwide, host governments, and cultural organizations to recognize the role of Eze Ndigbo as purely cultural leadership and to promote dialogue over what he termed misinformation.
“The Igbo identity does not end at the shores of Nigeria,” he declared. “Wherever Igbo people reside, there exists a living culture and a legitimate structure of leadership.”