The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos, Dr Jonathan Nnaji, spoke to P.M.EXPRESS exclusively on wide range of issues- the banning of Ezendigbo, BOT members, Council of Ndieze and the compilation of the names of Ndieze of Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos.
May we meet you — your name and position in the Igbo Speaking Community?
My name is Dr. Jonathan Nnaji. I am the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos.
Recently, you returned from abroad after medical treatment, and people have been coming to your office to welcome you. How do you feel about the compassion shown to you since your return?
Honestly, I am overwhelmed. The number of visitors I receive daily has surprised me, and many are still requesting appointments to visit. I am happy. I did not realize I was loved and valued to this extent. I am deeply grateful to everyone.
Few weeks ago, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide banned the “Eze Ndigbo” title in the diaspora. What is your take on this? Is the Igbo Speaking Community affected by the ban?
I commend the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, for making such a bold statement. Let us be clear: Ohanaeze Ndigbo has never crowned an Eze anywhere in Igbo land. That responsibility rests solely with the community — as it has been since the time of our forefathers. Many of our people do not understand the purpose for which Ohanaeze was formed.
Can any Igbo man or woman point to one place in Igbo land where Ohanaeze has crowned an Eze? By birth, every Igbo man and woman is Ohanaeze — a member of the Igbo nation. But traditional leadership is the duty of the community.
The Igbo Speaking Community has the right to crown Eze Ndigbo in Lagos, but only after due process. The individual must be profiled, and his identity established through verifiable letters from his village royal father, his village town union, and his town union in Lagos, among other stipulated measures.
Have we ever heard that Afenifere crowned an Oba in Yoruba land? The Obas of the Yoruba people in Enugu, Imo, and Anambra States were crowned by the Yoruba Speaking Community. The principle is the same.
I commend Senator Mbata for taking this bold step to restore order.
The Igbo Speaking Community is now united, but it appears Ndi Eze are not. What are you doing to unite them?
The Ezes crowned in accordance with the gazetted rules and profiled by the ISC Board of Trustees are united under the Council of Ndi Eze Igbo, established on 1st March, 2003. The current Chairman is Eze Dr. (Sir) Ephraim C. Nnaemeka, Eze Ndigbo of Aboru Kingdom
During the crisis that lasted over four years, we discovered that some individuals were crowned Eze without due process. The Board therefore, resolved that such persons must undergo profiling and submit all required documents before they can be reconfirmed by the Board of Trustees as Eze Ndigbo under the Igbo Speaking Community.
The Board must know the full character of every Eze because, if, God forbid, such an individual is involved in any misconduct, the Board bears responsibility.
Note that it is only the Board of Trustees of the Igbo Speaking Community that can be taken to court in case of any adverse situation — not the President-General, not the Executives, nor any other person. Only the BOT.
We cannot reconfirm any individual whose identity is not known to the BOT. The Board maintains files on all our Ezes containing records of every measure taken before their installation.
There are rumours that you are the only surviving BOT member of the Igbo Speaking Community. Why have you not constituted new members to the Board?
That is not correct. We have five living members on the Board following the death of some of our colleagues. The community went through a rebellion that lasted over four years. The body managed to resolve it in the last quarter of 2025. Under such crisis conditions, our priority was to restore peace — which, by God’s grace, we achieved late last year.
The Board members are presently discussing how to co-opt qualified members. So it is not Nnaji alone, but all five living Board members working collectively.
How does the Igbo Speaking Community confer the title of Eze and what qualifies an individual for such a leadership position?
It is a very detailed process. First, the candidate must live in his own house. His local community must present him to the Central President-General and the Executive, with proof of his achievements in that community over a period of time.
The President-General will interview him before presenting him to the Board for profiling. The candidate must provide verifiable letters from his village royal father, his village town union chairman, and his town union in Lagos, along with a letter from his local government of origin. All these are investigated and confirmed.
The community will also visit his residence to confirm where his palace will be situated.
These are the measures we take before anyone can be confirmed and crowned. It is not a title we give lightly.
Is there a faction in the Council of Ndi Eze of the Igbo Speaking Community?
There is no faction. The only recognized Council of Ndi Eze Ndigbo of the Igbo Speaking Community is the one established by the Board in 2003. The current Chairman is Eze Ephraim C. Nnaemeka, who assumed leadership after the death of the former Chairman, Eze Agbawodikeizu.
Recently, an Igbo media forum announced plans to compile names of those using the Eze title and said they would contact the BOT and the Council of Ndi Eze recognized by the BOT. What is your reaction?
When I saw the publication, I read it carefully. Initially, I wondered who was behind it. But after reading further and seeing that they intend to visit the BOT of ISC in Lagos, I was convinced the group understands what it is doing.
The Board will be happy to welcome them whenever they request a meeting. Such investigations are very important.
They have been informed that many individuals carrying Igbo Speaking Community Eze certificates were not crowned by the community. Such certificates are fake unless verified by the BOT. Many were crowned during the crisis without the Board’s knowledge or without following due process. Until that is rectified, the BOT will not stand for them because we have no records of them.
It is important to note that the BOT is not against anyone being Eze Ndigbo. We are only concerned about those who claim to be under the Igbo Speaking Community.
No officer of the Community should create problems for the Board, because in the event of any issue, it is the BOT that will be held responsible.
