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From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Anambra State government has come under a scurrilous attack for allegedly discrediting the chieftaincy title conferred on Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.
Anambra State government had knocked Amb. Ojukwu for accepting and publicising a chieftaincy title of “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” conferred on her by what it termed parallel monarch of Awka Kingdom, Chief Austin Ndigwe.
Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, in a statement yesterday, described the chieftaincy title as fake and dismissed Ndigwe as a fake traditional ruler.
There has been a tussle over the traditional stool of Awka community for some years between Ndigwe and Obi Gibson Nwosu. While a section of the community recognises and supports Ndigwe as their traditional ruler, the other section stands with Nwosu who has been on the throne for years.
The state government has, however, made it clear that it recognises Nwosu as the traditional ruler of the town, which incidentally is the state capital.
The commissioner, in the statement, expressed disappointment with Mrs Ojukwu’s action, saying Governor Chukwuma Soludo, had in a viral video a few years ago, made it clear that he recognises Nwosu as Awka monarch.
But the Pro-Bianca Ojukwu group under the aegis of Sons and daughters of Awka Ancient Kingdom, along with supporters of Igbo cultural heritage, rejected and condemned the state government’s “unwarranted interference in the conferment of the esteemed chieftaincy title “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” (The Light of the Community) on Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, by His Imperial Majesty, Obi Austin Chukwuezugo Ndigwe, Ezeuzu III of Awka.”
The group, in a statement signed by Prof. Emmanuel Obi, said the action by the government not only undermines the sovereignty of our traditional institutions but also represents a blatant overreach into matters that are the exclusive preserve of the Awka people.
“First and foremost, the traditions, customs, and cultural practices of Awka are not subject to the whims of state bureaucracy or political expediency. These are sacred elements of our identity, passed down through generations, and they remain the sole domain of the indigenous sons and daughters of Awka. It is we, the people of Awka, who hold the authority to select, crown, and affirm our leaders in accordance with our ancestral laws.
“His Imperial Majesty Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe was unanimously elected and crowned as Ezeuzu III by the Oha Awka (Council of Elders), the Ndichie (titled men), and the broader community in a process that reflected the collective will of our people. This unanimous decision was not imposed but emerged from deep consultations, rituals, and affirmations that honor our heritage. Any attempt by the state government to label this leadership as “unrecognized” or “fake” is an insult to our autonomy and a dangerous precedent that erodes the foundations of Igbo traditional governance.
“The conferment of the title on Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, a distinguished daughter of Igboland, widow of the eternal Ikemba Ndigbo, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and a symbol of grace, resilience, and service was a fitting recognition of her contributions to our community and the wider Nigerian society.
“As Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, she continues to elevate the profile of Anambra and Igboland on the national and international stage. The title “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” was bestowed during a ceremonial event in Awka, witnessed by multitudes, and it carries the full weight of our cultural legitimacy. To discredit it is to discredit the very essence of Awka’s cultural sovereignty.
“We remind the Anambra State Government that traditional rulership in Igboland is not a creation of colonial era statutes or modern political appointments. It predates the Nigerian state and operates independently of government certificates or ratifications. The government’s role should be to support and protect these institutions, not to meddle in them for partisan reasons or to settle scores in ongoing disputes. Historical precedents show that such interference only sows division and weakens community cohesion. If the government persists in this path, it risks alienating the people it claims to serve and inviting unnecessary conflict.*
“We call upon Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his administration to immediately retract any statements or actions discrediting this title and to respect the decisions of the Awka people. Let it be known that the unanimous crowning of Ezeuzu III stands as a testament to our unity, and no external force can undo it. Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu’s title remains valid, honoured, and celebrated by those who truly understand and value our traditions.”
The statement by the state government read: “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a publication by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E Amb. Bianca Ojukwu indicating that she has been conferred with a chieftaincy title of “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” which according to her was “conferred at the prestigious Igu Aro Cultural Festival by His Majesty Obi Austin Chukwuezugo Ndigwe (MON).”
“Mrs Ojukwu is an APGA chieftain and her posts have caused massive confusion leading many to wonder whether her involvement in the phoney chieftaincy title signals a change in the state government’s policy stance or simply an unnecessary/avoidable affront to the state government and the Anambra traditional institutions and culture.
“As a government committed to law and order and to the promotion and protection of our culture and traditional institutions, the Anambra State Government wishes to clarify and state as follows:
“The conferment of chieftaincy titles in Anambra State is the exclusive prerogative of recognized/certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, and they do so only to residents/indigenes of their communities.
“In the case of a person not from the community, the approval of the Traditional Ruler of the conferee’s community and the Commissioner for Local Government, Communities and Chieftaincy must be sought and obtained. This is in line with the extant Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct. None of the above conditions was met in the case under reference.
“Chief Austin C. Ndigwe is not a traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State. To put it mildly, he is simply an impostor. We have sighted a letter signed by him under a letterhead as the “Eze Uzu III” of Awka (a clear criminal offence under the Anambra Law) when the traditional ruler of Awka, HRH Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu (Eze Uzu II) is still alive, and with the official certificate and recognition by government as the traditional ruler of Awka.
“This 92-year-old Eze Uzu Awka is known to be the first Nigerian that flew a fighter jet solo. He was Second in Command in the Biafran Air Force who left with Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to Cote d’Ivoire and later to Zambia— and was in exile for 15 years.
“It was this same Eze Uzu Gibson Nwosu who in 2004 conferred the chieftaincy title of Omenife Awka on the current president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“Sadly, it is this aged veteran, now blind but still agile, who this dance of infamy is denigrating as well as insulting the sensitivities of Awka people and the Anambra traditions and culture.
“Even the late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu will be turning in his grave at this unwarranted insult on HRH Gibson Nwosu designed just to wet some megalomaniacal appetite. In the Anambra/Igbo culture, this is an abomination.
“Hon Minister Ojukwu—with her background and pedigree, knows or should know these FACTS very well. She was in the home of Chief Ndigwe when the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, attended his birthday celebration a few years ago and publicly advised him “as a friend” to desist from impersonating the traditional ruler of the town and that the recognized traditional ruler remained HRH Gibson Nwosu.
“The video went viral. Indeed, in her publication in her verified Facebook account, Mrs Ojukwu carefully avoided referring to Mr. Ndigwe as a traditional ruler but rather described him as “Supreme Commander of Awka Ancient Kingdom”—a phantom title/position that does not exist in Awka.
“We do not object to whatever pet name she chooses to call her friend to massage his ego, but such must not be elevated to a point of sacrilege against law and custom. The whole exercise appears to be an indirect affront to the authority of the Traditional Ruler of Awka and the sanctity of the Traditional Institution in Anambra State established by the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State.
“By proceeding to describe Mr. Ndigwe conjunctively as “His Majesty” and “Obi”, the message unequivocally evinced an intention to portray and as a matter of fact portrayed him as a Traditional Ruler. This is against the spirit of the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State.
“By purporting to confer a chieftaincy title, Mr. Ndigwe usurped the ceremonial functions of the bona fide Traditional Ruler of Awka—HRH Gibson Nwosu—and this is totally unacceptable. Arrogating to oneself the non-existent and childish title of “Supreme Commander” and using same to confer vain Chieftaincy titles is designed to subjugate the Traditional Ruler and ridicule the Traditional Institution thereby creating a dangerous precedent which the State Government will not allow.
“The State Government will not tolerate this desecration of the Traditional Institution and will take every lawful step to promote and protect our culture and traditional institutions.
“Amb. Bianca Ojukwu knows that Mr. Ndigwe has neither legal nor customary rights to confer a Chieftaincy title on anyone. She is eminently qualified to be honoured with Chieftaincy titles by recognized traditional institutions—at least, as the wife of late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu. But it cannot be a vain or fake Chieftaincy title from an impostor or fake traditional ruler like Mr. Ndigwe.
“We therefore state that the Chieftaincy title she purports to have received from Mr. Austin Ndigwe is fake and not recognised under the Anambra culture and tradition or law. She should desist from addressing herself by any such fake title conferred by Mr. Austin Ndigwe.
“In conclusion, Anambra State government wishes to assure our people that it is committed to a new social order. We must restore sensible values and respect for law and order, custom and tradition and ennobling values that elevate our collective social consciousness rather than the nascent subculture that celebrates a few with megalomaniacal delusions and who attempt to play God.
“These few cannot be role models for our children nor the foundation for our future. As a responsible government we must take all necessary steps to protect our collective heritage from willful assault. To the great and law-abiding people of Awka, we have your back.”
