The Anambra State Government has escalated a brewing cultural controversy by threatening legal action against Ambassador Bianca Odimegwu‑Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, for allegedly accepting and promoting a chieftaincy title that the government says undermines recognised traditional institutions in the state.
In a strongly worded statement, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, described the purported title of “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” as invalid, asserting that it was conferred by an individual with no legal or customary authority to do so.
According to the government, the traditional ruler identified as Austin C. Ndigwe has no official recognition or certification under Anambra’s chieftaincy laws, and is therefore an “impostor”. The official traditional ruler of Awka, HRH Obi Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu (Eze Uzu II), continues to hold legitimate authority.
The state’s position is unequivocal: while Ojukwu may be deserving of honours, any such recognition must come from duly recognised traditional institutions and follow statutory procedures. The government has called on the minister to stop using the title and has vowed to pursue “every lawful step” to protect cultural heritage and the integrity of traditional institutions.
This dispute has reverberated across political and cultural circles in Anambra, particularly within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as confusion over the title’s legitimacy fuels broader debates on respect for tradition vs individual prestige.
