“IAM STILL AUTHENTIC EZE NDIGBO IN  AMUWO ODOFIN LGA”, Says Eze Augustine Sunday Ojukwu 

By Divine Chisom Emmanuel 

NDIGBO Supporting Eze Augustine Sunday Ojukwu in Amuwo Odofin LGA of Lagos State, said that they cannot accept Chief Prosper Chukwaka ,as Ezendigbo in both FESTAC town and Amuwo Odofin LGA.

 They insisted that they would continue to recognize  Eze  Ojukwu as the authentic Ezendigbo in the area. 

Recall that  Chief Prosper Chukwuka has been parading himself as Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin LGA and FESTAC town since the Igbo Speaking Community led by  Chief Sunday Udeh’s faction,installed him as Ezendigbo in 2023, at Lawanson , Surulere area of Lagos, which many Igbos said,created  confusion on who the genuine Eze in Amuwo Odofin is.

As things stands now, it appears that Chief Chukwuka may have lost the Ezeship Claim, considering a said resolution of the Igbo stakeholders, who denounced and warned Chief Chukwuka  to stop parading himself as Ezendigbo in the LGA including FESTAC town.

At a recent  press conference held at the palace of Eze Ojukwu,  his loyalist stakeholders met and formally sacked  Chukwuka, who was crowned Ezendigbo in Surulere area of Lagos in 2023 and started claiming  Ezendigboship  in Amuwo Odofin LGA.

During the press conference, Eze Ojukwu narrated how he became the Prime Minister (Onowu) for several years before he was elected Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin LG for over five years.

He stated thus:

“The history of the Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin LGA of Lagos State will never be complete without tracing its origin sequencially to HRH Late Eze Dr. Godian Okwurucheta Dimojiaku (Eze Ogidi), Eze Udo I, who was the first Eze Igbo of Amuwo Odofin LGA /Oriade LCDA of Lagos State (2002 – 2019).

“He was on the throne and doubled as Eze Ndi Igbo of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and Oriade, during his reign. High Chief Sir Godwin O.E. Dike, Owelle Ndigbo, a reputable man of integrity and a Diplomat (Retired) was the Traditional Prime Minister as well as Honorary Chairman of the Council of Chiefs.”

“My humble self was third in Command as Onowu Ndi Igbo. On numerous occasions, I deputized for the Traditional Prime Minister/Chairman of the Council of Chiefs whenever he travelled out for official duties. 

Sequel to the demise of HRH, Late Eze Godian Dim Okwurucheta Dimojiaku, his stool became vacant and in accordance with the prevailing Council of Chiefs Constitution, the Traditional Prime Minister, Owelle High Chief Sir Godwin O.E. Dike became the Regend Eze for one year and was to have been the next rightful person in line of succession to the throne to be crowned the next Eze Udo Il, Eze Igbo Amuwo Odofin.”

“However, the Regend Eze summoned a general meeting, where he informed the Council that in view of his very busy office schedules, he would prefer to remain the Traditional Prime Minister and would like to propose me, then High Chief Augustine Sunday Ojukwu (The ONOWU) to be crowned the Eze Udo II, Ezendigbo of Amuwo Odofin LGA and he asked if there were any objections and there was none.”

“Despite this lack of opposing views, the Traditional Prime Minister noted for meticulous administrative acumen still went on further to make the filing of Eze Udo Il more dynamic by appointing a returning officer, an assistant and declared that in case any other person was interested in becoming the next Eze Udo Il, the person should indicate so in other to enable members vote/choose democratically. Myself, High Chief then Augustin Sunday Ojukwu (ONOWU) still declared my readiness to serve even in the absence of a competitor. Voting was conducted and I was unanimously returned un-opossed.”

“The Regend Eze communicated my certified candidature and development to the higher echelons of Igbo Community in the diaspora, in Lagos State, who drilled, screened, found me very suitable and coronated and issued me with my Certificate that I was duely coronated as the Eze Udo Il, Eze Igbo of Amuwo Odofin LGA.”

“For the avoidance of any doubt, l am already five years on the throne and have celebrated yearly epochal New Yam and Ofala pomp and pagentry/filled festivals with massive turn out of enthusiastic guests cutting across multi-racial and tribal divides from various parts of the world since l mounted the Ezendigbo of Amuwo Odofin.”

“My emergence as Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin was neither by accident nor a stroke of chance but divinely ordained and up till this moment, our kingdom has remained doggedly peaceful and progressive.”

“My address today is based on the viral video making rounds in respect of the unfounded news of the sack and replacement of Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin by the Igbo Speaking Community.”

“I am using this medium to inform the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs Lagos, All Lagos State Security Agencies, Amuwo Odofin Local Government Chairman, Ndi Oba, Ndi Baale, Ndi Eze, Ndi Onowu,  Ichie, High Chiefs, Umuada, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Igbo Speaking Community and all Ndi Igbo in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Lagos, that there is no cause for alarm and no need to fight for the position of Ezendigbo (Eze Udo Il) in Amuwo Odofin, which is neither vacant nor in contest at this point in time. I also urge everybody to remain calm and resolute while discharging their normal daily activities as law abiding citizens.”

As a custodian of Igbo Tradition and Culture in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, I don’t have any grudge against any person or persons for any reason whatsoever and therefore, advice all and sundry to allow peace to reign.”

Eze Ojukwu also reacted to the claims that Chief Chukwuka was given certificate as Ezendigbo in FESTAC town before another certificate surfaced on the social media. 

He said that he was not aware that Chief Chukwuka was installed as Ezendigbo FESTAC town and he had not heard any discussion with him and Igbo Speaking community led by Chief Sunday Udeh.

He explained that if he was given such position, he ought to have been contacted as the Ezendigbo of Amuwo Odofin LGA, which FESTAC town is under his jurisdiction.

Some of the critical stakeholders including Chief Kalu Uguru, Barrister Chidi Njoku, who is the Council Secretary, and Ichie Cosmas Agbalaku confirmed that Eze Ojukwu was the chosen Ezendigbo in Amuwo Odofin and Ndigbo do not know Chief Prosper Chukwaka as Ezendigbo in FESTAC town and Amuwo Odofin LGA.