Emeka Mathew Ezeani - A Disclaimer Important Communiqué ...Igbo Union Ireland 12th July, 2013 Dear Leader/ Chairman, Emeka Ezeani and the Desecration of Igbo Culture – A Disclaimer We the Igbo Union Ireland wish to bring to you and your esteemed organization the goodwill of Ndigbo in Ireland. We also want to share in your ideals of keeping our community together, peaceful, vibrant and on the part of progress even in these difficult and uncertain economic and social times. As the umbrella body representing all Igbos in Ireland, we want to bring to your attention an ongoing problem within the Igbo community in Ireland arising from an individual named Emeka Mathew Ezeani claiming to be ‘Ezeigbo’ (King of the Igbos). The generality of Igbos in Nigeria and Ireland as well as in the wider Diaspora have rejected this practice in its entirety. We consider it a sacrilege that an individual would arrogate unto himself a non‐existent title that debases and bastardizes the Igbo culture in the name of Igbos resident here in Ireland. This issue is viewed with utmost seriousness. It is on record that the Nigerian Embassy accorded recognition to Igbo Union Ireland as the bonafide umbrella group for Ndigbo following series of consultations with both groups (Igbo Union Ireland and Ohanaeze Ireland) as well as leaders of Ndigbo in Nigeria. At a meeting in the Nigerian Embassy at the instance of the former Ambassador Dr Kema Chikwe, the Nigerian Embassy ruled that Mr Emeka Ezeani and his Ohanaeze group should desist from parading themselves as representatives of Ndigbo, culturally and otherwise. We believe that records of these meetings and the position of the embassy are verifiable. In September 2009, a number of royal fathers and stakeholders led by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, chairman Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers visited Ireland and categorically denounced the practice of the Ezeigbo title in Ireland (speech by Eze Ilomuanya and other verifiable documents from Nigerian Newspapers, supporting our position are available on request). Additionally, all the governors of the Southeast States have expressed their disgust at the confusion and divisiveness of this practice amongst Igbos wherever such arrogation of the ‘Ezeigbo’ title exists. For this reason and the fact that it amounts to ridiculing our age long culture, the royal fathers, who are the true custodians of our culture have gone round Nigeria and overseas to sensitize people concerning the implications of this gross disrespect to our culture and traditions of our forebears. It is well documented that the ‘Ezeigbo’ title as allegedly instituted in Ireland, has been banned by all state governments in Nigeria outside Igbo land. No nationality will stand by and watch as their culture which defines who they are is trampled upon by some selfserving and self‐aggrandizing individuals who lack legitimacy and standing in their immediate towns and communities back home in Nigeria and most importantly, lack our mandate here in Ireland. In relation to traditional institutions, the Igbo culture is not dissimilar to most other cultures of the world and yet, we observe with sadness that no other ethnic nationality conducts this profanation except some individuals from Igbo land. The Yorubas, Hausas, Binis from Nigeria, the Ashanti people from Ghana, the Zulus of South Africa and indeed all known societies that practice traditional monarchical institution do not violate their culture with such impunity as has been witnessed within the Igbo community in Ireland. Therefore, we have in conjunction with our leaders in Nigeria decided to chase away this monster and end this divisiveness caused by the aberration called ‘Ezeigbo’ wherever it exists. Igbo Union Ireland, the umbrella body of all Igbo associations in Ireland and a member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Nigeria, hereby in light of the aforesaid wish to let you know that Mr Ezeani and his co‐travellers do not represent the Igbos in Ireland but themselves. We do not recognize him as ‘Ezeigbo’ or such appellation or designation. The agreement to send out this disclaimer was first reached by the general house of the Igbo Union Ireland, comprising all the Igbo associations in Ireland in 2008 and further reaffirmed in our general meeting of 23RD June 2013. By this we want to emphatically state also that anybody that conducts business with Mr Emeka Mathew Ezeani or anybody representing him in the assumed capacity of ‘Ezeigbo’ (King of the Igbos) in the name of, or on behalf of Igbo people living in Ireland does so at his or her own risk, as he does not represent Ndigbo in Ireland nor our culture and tradition. Doing the contrary as we have stated in this letter, amounts to disrespect to the Igbo Nation. Suffice it to say that we have also made our position known to the Irish government and to his Excellency, the Nigerian Ambassador here in Dublin. This disclaimer has become imperative because a lot of people, Igbos and non‐Igbos alike who have been hoodwinked into believing the ‘Ezeigbo’ charade and have been made to believe that we (the Igbo Nation) support this abomination. The practice is selfserving and fraudulent and should be repudiated by all well meaning people who love the Igbo people and wish for peace and progress to return to our community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Igbo Union Leadership should you need further clarifications on this issue. Igbo Union Ireland wants to use this opportunity to thank you for your support and cooperation and wish to state that we want to enhance and take our relationship with you to a more rewarding and fruitful stage. We must state however that those who give Mr Ezeani a platform to entrench this ongoing sacrilege, privately or publicly willfully denigrate our culture. The use of ad hominem titles such as ‘King of Igbos’, ‘His Royal Highness’ (HRH), ‘Eze’, ‘Ezeigbo’, ‘Eze Ndigbo’, ‘Igwe’, ‘Igwe Ndigbo’ or any other appellation that alludes to or suggests royalty is considered offensive and a desecration of the Igbo culture and thereby amounts to pouring scorn on our people. Finally we want to use this medium to inform and invite your distinguished group/association to our up‐coming Inaugural Igbo National Convention which will hold in September 2013. The event will provide an opportunity to showcase the real culture and history of Ndigbo and dispel any ambiguity in relation to our position on this matter. Your group/association will be updated with the dates and venue in due course. God Bless you all. Yours sincerely, (On behalf of Igbo Union Ireland) 1. Kelechi JK Onwumereh – Onye Ndu, Igbo Union Ireland, Dublin Chapter, 0879396524. 2. Innocent Chukwuezi – Sec., Igbo Union Ireland, Dublin Chapter, 0833200017. 3. Ben Uzoma – Onye Ndu, Igbo Union Ireland, Cork Chapter, 0877540173. 4. Princewill Egwim – Sec., Igbo Union Ireland, Cork Chapter, 0863620605 5. Ignatius Chukwurah – Onye Ndu, Igbo Union Ireland, Drogheda Chapter, 0894883962. 6. Kenneth Obama – Sec., Igbo Union Ireland, Drogheda Chapter, 0894833646. 7. Jeb Okeoroafor – Onye Ndu, Igbo Union Ireland, Kerry Chapter, 0894139834. 8. Mather Okoro – Sec., Igbo Union Ireland, Kerry Chapter, 0894895233. 9. Emmanuel Akwajah – Onye Ndu, Igbo Union Ireland, Limerick Chapter, 0833056757. 10. Sunny Okoroafor – Onye Ndu, Igbo Union Ireland, Waterford/Kilkenny Chapter, 0894630785. 11. Charles Mbah – Sec., Igbo Union Ireland, Waterford/Kilkenny Chapter, 0871807566. 12. Greg Umeh – Anambra State Association, Dublin, 0874172600. 13. Chinedum Ohaekeleihem – Imo State Indigenes Ireland, 0894880213. 14. Golden Anikwe – Greater Awgu Assembly Ireland, 0872751268. 15. Godwin Anyanwu – Owerri Progressive Association Ireland, 0876941570. 16. Valentine Obidegwu – Ideato Union Ireland, 0833041440. 17. Emmanuel Onwe – Nkanu Union Ireland, 0863044605. 18. Toms Ugwu – Nsukka District Welfare Association Ireland, 0876840860. 19. Sunny Obasi Kalu – Old Bende Association Ireland, 0879714112. 20. Sunny Okagbue – Nkpor Development Union Ireland, 0861081014. 21. Jude Anumudu – Orlu Senatorial Zone Association Ireland, 0879943688. 22. Okey Onyia – Otu‐Umunna Club Ireland, 0864040514. 23. Pat Edekobi – Onitsha Ado Association Ireland, 0851467556. (Kindly sign this disclaimer, scan and forward to info@igbounionireland. Thanks)
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 19:27:34 +0000