The Anambra State Government has been criticised by concerned members of the Awka Ancient Kingdom and supporters of Igbo cultural heritage for dismissing a chieftaincy title conferred on Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. The title, “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” (The Light of the Community), was bestowed on her by His Imperial Majesty Obi Dr. Austin Chukwuezugo Ndigwe, MON, JP, Ezeuzu III of Awka, in recognition of her contributions to the Igbo community and the nation.
The state government labelled the chieftaincy title “fake” and claimed that the traditional ruler was an “impostor.” In response, the Awka community has vehemently rejected this interference, arguing that the government’s action undermines the sovereignty of their traditional institutions and represents a blatant overreach into matters that belong exclusively to the Awka people. According to a statement by Prof. Emmanuel Obi, the traditions, customs, and cultural practices of Awka are not subject to the whims of state bureaucracy or political expediency. The community maintains that the selection, crowning, and affirmation of their leaders are carried out in accordance with ancestral laws, and that His Imperial Majesty Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe was unanimously elected and crowned as Ezeuzu III by the Oha Awka (Council of Elders) and the broader community.
The conferment of the title on Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu is seen as a fitting recognition of her contributions to the community and to Nigerian society at large. As Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, she continues to elevate the profile of Anambra and Igboland on both national and international stages. The Awka community is calling on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his administration to immediately retract any statements or actions that discredit the title and to respect the decisions of the Awka people.
The controversy highlights the importance of respecting traditional institutions and the cultural sovereignty of communities. The Awka community is adamant 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. They argue that 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.
Comments are closed for this story.