From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Representative of Igbo community Union in Edo State, Sir Chief Samson Awiaka has said that the title of Eze Ndigbo doesn’t exist in the state.
He made this known when he led members of Igbo Community in the State to pay homage to Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin during his 9th Coronation anniversary celebration in his Palace, Benin City.
Awiaka extolled the sterling qualities of the Oba Ewuare II, saying, “your Royal Majesty, we are here (Palace) to congratulate you on this ceremony. You are our grand Patron. In Benin, there is nothing like Eze Ndigbo.
“We will continue to be with you. You have been so good to us. You and the whole Edo people have been so good to us”, he said.
Members of Yoruba, Arewa and Hausa Communities in the state also paid tributes to the Oba, reaffirming their loyalty to him for his peaceful reign and impactful leadership in upholding the Edo heritage.
Chief Imam of Central Mosque in Benin City, Alhaji Abdulfatai Enabulele who spoke on behalf of Arewa and Hausa Communities in the State, said, “you do not argue that with the King. You do not battle with the Oba of Benin”.
“Edo has witnessed a tremendous peace and progress since your reign as Oba of Benin”, according to Alhaji Enabulele.
In the meantime, the Edo State High court on Monday October 20th 2025 ruled in favour of Edo Arts and Cultural Heritage Institute, barred the installation of Eze Ndigbo in the State.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by the Edo Arts and Cultural Heritage Institute against self-acclaimed agitators known as Eze Ndigbo group, who sought to establish and parade a traditional ruler in Edo State, Justice A.N. Erhabor held that settlers are not indigenes in Edo State, noting that they have no legal right to install traditional ruler in any part of Edo State.
After citing a plethora of authorities in relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution and the Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law of the defunct Bendel State (now applicable to Edo and Delta States), described the proposed installation of Eze Ndigbo in Edo State by the petitioner as an aberration and a violation of the legal framework in the State.
Justice Erhabor, clarified that while the Nigeria Constitution promotes peaceful coexistence amongst all ethnic groups, but laws and customs must be obeyed by Nigerians.