The Secretary, Committee on the Regularisation of Igbo Diaspora Traditional Title and Leadership (CRIDTTL), Prince Ubochi Ubochi, has written to the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, urging him to exercise caution and carefully scrutinise the newly registered Association of Ndieze, Ndindu and Igbo Nobles (ANNIN), particularly if the organisation intends to seek affiliation with the apex Igbo socio-cultural body.

The concerns stem from two fundamental differences between ANNIN’s position and that of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on the recognition of Igbo traditional leaders in the diaspora and the status, role, and authority of Onyendu Ndigbo outside Igboland.

First, the newly registered association said it recognises individuals who independently style themselves as ‘Eze’, ‘Eze Igbo’ or ‘Eze Ndigbo’ as traditional rulers of Igbo communities outside Igboland.

Second, ANNIN challenged Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide’s constitutional recognition of Onyendu Ndigbo as traditional leaders of Igbo communities outside Igboland.

Instead, ANNIN stated it has apportioned a different role for Ndindu Ndigbo; assigning them the responsibility of coordinating town unions and market unions.

This ANNIN’s position departs from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide’s constitutionally established role of Onyendu Ndigbo as traditional leaders of Igbo communities in the diaspora.

Observers have questioned the basis upon which ANNIN could purport to determine or assign functions to Ndindu Ndigbo, an institution whose leadership and responsibilities it has nothing in common with.

The suggestion that any association could acquire authority over existing Igbo institutions and their members merely by registering the name of that existing Igbo institution with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has been described as preposterous and fundamentally misconceived.

“Even though registration confers legal recognition on an association, subject to applicable law; it does not, in itself, confer traditional authority over an ethnic community or grant control over independently constituted institutions”, Ubochi argued.

“The development, therefore, calls for clarity on ANNIN’s objectives, the scope of its proposed activities, and the basis of any authority it may claim over Igbo traditional institutions, town unions, market unions or the established Onyendu Ndigbo structure.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, as the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Igbo people, is consequently urged to examine these issues carefully before considering any proposed affiliation with ANNIN.

Such scrutiny would help protect the integrity of Igbo traditional institutions, preserve the standing of Onyendu Ndigbo and prevent avoidable confusion within Igbo communities in the diaspora”, stated.

Ubochi noted that the central issue is not whether individuals have the right to establish associations, but whether the registration of a new organisation can legitimately be interpreted as conferring authority to redefine existing institutions, assign responsibilities to their members, or determine the leadership structure of Igbo communities in their places of residence.

“The need for mutual respect, institutional clarity, and peaceful coexistence between Igbo communities and their host communities makes it imperative that these questions be addressed with seriousness and circumspection” Ubochi said. (The Sun)