A pan Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ndi-Ndu Ndigbo Na Uzo Ije (Association of Igbo Cultural Leaders in Diaspora) has restated its commitment to following the dictates of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers.

Speaking at their general meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State recently, the group said that though it is outside Igbo land, it would follow the worthy footsteps which the South East traditional rulers have laid.

According to the group, as Igbo cultural leaders in Diaspora, their duty is to promote the culture and tradition which Ndigbo are known for and not to truncate it.

Accordingly, they said they have decided to go by the title of Ndi-Ndu (Leaders), instead of Ezeigbo (kings), since Igbo kings are domiciled in their domains in Igbo land.

The leaders said that the title has been warmly embraced by the Obas in Yoruba land since there was no conflict of interest or responsibility.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the association, High Chief Aloy Obi, said that for more than a decade since he was made the Igbo leader in Ibadan in particular and Oyo state in general, he has never had any problem with the traditional institutions in Oyo State.

He wondered why some people would be conferring on themselves Ezeigbo (Igbo king) outside Igbo land and bearing titles like His Imperial Majesty and His Royal Highness in another man’s kingdom.

According to him, that was one of the things that has been causing problem between the Igbo and their host communities in Yoruba land, since there can never be two kings in a kingdom.

High Chief Obi said that relevant authorities in the South West should know that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which is the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, as well as the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, were against that title.

In his contribution, the National Secretary of the association, Chief Iheonunekwu George, said that being a king with no kingdom does not make any meaning.

Chief Iheonunekwu maintained that those who were going by the title of Kings outside Igboland, when they die, their bodies would still be taken to their native homes to be buried as ordinary individuals and never as kings.

He said that their own association would continue to follow the dictates of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and South East Council of Traditional Rulers to ensure that Igbo culture and traditions were projected the right way outside Igbo land.

Also contributing, Chief Michael Uba, the Onye Ndu Ndigbo in Shagamu, Ogun State, said that the association was out to groom Igbo sons and daughters who were born outside Igbo land in the etiquettes of Igbo culture.

Chief Uba, who is also the Chairman of Ndi-Ndu Ndigbo (Igbo Leaders), in Ogun State, said that the association would help to bring about unity and harmony among the Ndigbo and their host communities wherever they reside.