The Awka Ancient Kingdom has strongly condemned the Anambra State Government over its reported attempt to discredit the chieftaincy title conferred on former Nigerian Ambassador and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, describing the move as an unwarranted intrusion into the cultural sovereignty of the Awka people.

Speaking through Prof. Emmanuel Obi, who signed the rebuttal on behalf of concerned sons and daughters of Awka, the community accused the state government of overreach, insisting that the conferment of the title “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” (The Light of the Community) was valid, legitimate and firmly rooted in Awka tradition. The title was conferred by His Imperial Majesty, Obi Dr Austin Chukwuezugo Ndigwe, MON, JP, Ezeuzu III of Awka.

In a strongly worded statement, the community maintained that any attempt by the state government to question either the authority of the monarch or the title bestowed on Ambassador Ojukwu amounted to a direct assault on Awka’s ancestral institutions.

“We, the concerned sons and daughters of Awka Ancient Kingdom, along with supporters of Igbo cultural heritage, vehemently reject and condemn the Anambra State Government’s unwarranted interference in the conferment of the esteemed chieftaincy title ‘Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora’ on Her Excellency, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu,” the statement read.

The group stressed that Awka’s customs, traditions and leadership structures are not subject to state approval or political convenience.

“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,” the statement said.

Defending the legitimacy of Obi Ndigwe, the community emphasised that his emergence as Ezeuzu III followed due traditional process and enjoyed overwhelming communal backing.

“His Imperial Majesty Obi Dr Austin Ndigwe was unanimously elected and crowned as Ezeuzu III by the Oha Awka (Council of Elders), the Ndichie, and the broader community. This decision emerged from deep consultations, rituals, and affirmations that honour our heritage. Any attempt to label this leadership as ‘unrecognised’ or ‘fake’ is an Insult to our autonomy and a dangerous precedent,” the statement added.

The Awka indigenes described Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as a worthy recipient of the title, citing her pedigree, public service record and symbolic importance to Igboland.

“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.

“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.

“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,” they warned.

Calling on Governor Soludo to reverse the government’s stance, the group urged restraint to avoid tension.

“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.

“Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu’s title remains valid, honoured, and celebrated by those who truly understand and value our traditions,” the statement concluded. (Daily Sun)