By Jonathan Ugbal
The Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council (TRC) has stopped the Igbo community from installing a king for the Igbos in the State.
The TRC in a statement signed by the Chairman, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet who is also the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi and Dr. Patrick Oqua Agbor, the Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipal said the title of ‘Eze Ndi Igbo’ which the Igbos planned to confer on one Sir E. A Ezenwenyi was reserved only for monarchs and traditional rulers in Igbo kingdoms.
The TRC also stopped Igbo monarchs from conferring the title of ‘Eze Ndi Igbo of Cross River State’ to those resident in Cross River and stopped any leader of the Igbo community in the State from bearing titles reserved for traditional rulers in the State.
However, the TRC said the Igbo community can fix conveniently, any date for celebrations and invite traditional rulers from within or outside the State attend.
The statement read: “The attention of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council has been drawn to the planned installation/coronation of Sir E. A. Ezenweyi (KSS, KSM, JP) as the Eze Ndi Igbo of Cross River State, and we want the entire Igbos to note as follows:
“The Igbos have every right to assemble as a community in Cross River State and pursue their legitimate rights under a leader who may be known as President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, President of Igbo community in Cross River State, but not as Eze Ndi Igbo (revered traditional title reserved for Monarchs in the respective Igbo kingdoms).
“The said leader is not to bear the titles of His Majesty (HM), His Royal Highness (HRH), or His Highness (HH) which are revered titles (reserved for traditional rulers in Cross River State).
“The Igbo leader in Calabar is not to award any chieftaincy title of any nature – Traditional/Honorary to any person within the territories of Cross River State as Eze Ndi Igbo.
“There should be no installation/coronation of Sir E. A. Ezenwenyi on November 24, 2018 as Ezeigbo but as leader of Igbo community in Cross River State. Igbos in Cross River State can celebrate their day as may be convenient to them and may invite traditional rulers from within and outside the State to attend if they so wish.”