Bianca Ojukwu: Awka Community Confronts Soludo Administration Over Chieftaincy Title Dispute

Prominent indigenes of Awka Ancient Kingdom, the capital territory of Anambra State, alongside advocates of Igbo cultural preservation, have openly challenged the Anambra State Government over its response to a traditional chieftaincy title recently bestowed on the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

The group strongly criticized what it described as unnecessary and disrespectful interference by the state government following the conferment of the revered title “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora”, meaning The Light of the Community, on the widow of the late Igbo icon and nationalist leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (Ikemba Nnewi).

The chieftaincy title was formally conferred late last year by His Imperial Majesty, Obi Dr. Austin Chukwuezugo Ndigwe, MON, JP, Ezeuzu III of Awka, in recognition of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu’s enduring contributions to the Igbo nation and Nigeria at large.

However, the Anambra State Government later issued a disclaimer rejecting the conferment, describing it as invalid and alleging that the traditional ruler involved was an impostor. This position has since drawn sharp opposition from members of the Awka community.

According to the concerned sons and daughters of Awka, the government’s action represents a serious affront to the independence of their traditional institutions and an unacceptable intrusion into matters that fall solely within the authority of the Awka people.

In a detailed statement issued by Prof. Emmanuel Obi on behalf of Awka Sons and Daughters, and in solidarity with Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe, Ezeuzu III, the group described the attack on Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as unwarranted and deeply troubling.

The statement emphasized that the customs, traditions, and cultural expressions of Awka are sacred and cannot be subjected to administrative directives or political convenience. According to the group, these traditions have been preserved across generations and remain exclusively under the control of Awka indigenes, who alone possess the authority to select, crown, and affirm their leaders based on ancestral laws and established cultural norms.

The group further explained that Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe emerged as Ezeuzu III following a unanimous decision by the Oha Awka (Council of Elders), the Ndichie (titled men), and the wider Awka community. This process, they noted, was rooted in extensive consultations, rituals, and communal affirmations that align fully with Awka heritage. Any attempt to describe such leadership as unrecognized or illegitimate, they warned, undermines Igbo traditional governance and threatens the autonomy of indigenous communities.

Addressing the conferment of the chieftaincy title on Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, the group stated that the honor was both appropriate and symbolic. They described her as a respected daughter of Igboland, a figure of dignity and resilience, and a representative of enduring service whose late husband remains a central pillar of Igbo history.

They noted that in her capacity as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu continues to project Anambra State and Igboland positively at both national and international levels. The title “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora”, they added, was conferred during a well-attended traditional ceremony in Awka and carries full cultural legitimacy within the community. Any attempt to discredit the title, according to the statement, amounts to a direct assault on Awka’s cultural sovereignty.

The statement also reminded the state government that traditional rulership in Igboland predates colonial administration and modern political structures. It operates independently of government certifications or official endorsements. The group cautioned that when governments interfere in traditional matters, history has shown that such actions often lead to division, tension, and weakened communal bonds.

In conclusion, the Awka sons and daughters called on Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and his administration to withdraw all statements or actions that question the legitimacy of the chieftaincy title. They reaffirmed that the crowning of Ezeuzu III reflects the unity and collective will of the Awka people and cannot be overturned by external forces. They stressed that Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu’s title remains valid, respected, and celebrated within the community by those who truly understand and uphold Awka traditions.