By Clifford Ndujihe

Lagos—THE apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has disowned  Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu over his claims that he has been the authentic Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State since 1999.

Ohanaeze President-General, Chief Enwo Igariwey, in a telephone chat with Vanguard, said Eze Hyacinth Ohazuluike, remains the chairman of the council of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State with Eze Nwachukwu as member.

Nwachukwu had in a press statement, last week, dismissed media reports affirming Ohazulike as chairman of the council as false and insisted that he is the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos.

Faulting Nwachukwu, the Ohanaeze president-general said the umbrella body of Igbo groups set up the Chief Guy Ikokwu-led committee that drew up guidelines for installation of Igbo cultural  leaders in the Diaspora. And that a meeting in Lagos where the issues were discussed  that Nwachukwu and Ohazulike were there and both embraced after agreeing that Ohazulike will chair the council for two years because he has been leading for many years. After him, the position will be rotated for a term of four years.

Asked his take on Nwachukwu’s claims and whether the Ikokwu-led committee had the backing of Ohanaeze, Igariwey said: ‘’Yes, the Ikokwu committee has Ohanaeze’s backing. We set up that committee and they are doing a great job. Nwachukwu was at the meeting of the Ezes in Lagos. I was there. They (Nwachukwu and Ohazulike) agreed not to be fighting over Eze Igbo Lagos.

“They can rotate it. There are six groups. They could do election and rotate it after a term of four years.”