Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
ABAKALIKI/AWKA, NIGERIA — The Anambra State Government has formally rejected a recently publicised chieftaincy title allegedly bestowed on Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, declaring the honour invalid and saying it was conferred by a “fake traditional ruler” who holds no recognised authority in the state’s cultural hierarchy.
In a letter dated December 31, 2025, signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, TonyCollins Nwabunwanne, and released to the press, the state government said the purported title of “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora” — widely shared on social media by Bianca Ojukwu as having been conferred during the Igu Aro Cultural Festival — is invalid under Anambra law, culture and tradition.
According to the government’s statement, chieftaincy titles in Anambra State must be conferred by recognised and certified traditional rulers in their respective communities, following established due‑process rules under the Traditional Rulers’ Code of Conduct. The release noted that where a prospective honoree is not from the host community, the approval of the monarch of the recipient’s own community and the state’s chieftaincy authorities must be obtained before any title can be valid.
The government said the individual who purported to confer the honour, Chief Austin C. Ndigwe, is not a recognised traditional ruler in Awka or Anambra State, describing him as “simply an impostor” without the customary or legal authority to bestow any title. Officials said they had seen documentation suggesting Ndigwe signed correspondence using the title “Eze Uzu III of Awka”, but stressed that the office is already held by HRH Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu (Eze Uzu II) — a certified monarch whose status the state government continues to uphold.
The statement further highlighted the stature and historical contributions of HRH Nwabueze Nwosu, noting that he is a respected elder — reportedly the first Nigerian to fly a fighter jet solo and a former Second in Command in the Biafran Air Force with a long record of service to the region. The government warned that the impersonation of his office, and by extension the traditional institution, insults local customs and cultural sensitivities.
While the minister’s social media announcement did not explicitly refer to Ndigwe as a traditional ruler, state officials said that the use of regal language — such as addressing him as “His Majesty” or “Obi” — created “massive confusion” and effectively positioned him as a monarch in the public eye. The government emphasised that such representations are contrary to the spirit and letter of the Traditional Rulers Law of Anambra State.
In urging Ambassador Ojukwu to desist from using the contested title, the statement emphasised that the minister — a prominent political figure and the widow of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu — is eminently qualified to be honoured with genuine chieftaincy titles by recognised institutions. However, the government said this should be done through lawful channels that respect cultural protocols and avoid creating precedents that undermine traditional authority structures.
The controversy has sparked discussion among community leaders and observers, some of whom argue that the government’s strong rebuke seeks to protect the integrity of ancient cultural practices. Others suggest the episode highlights ongoing tensions within traditional institutions and modern political engagement in southeastern Nigeria. Regardless, state officials reiterated their commitment to uphold cultural heritage and warned that any individual or group attempting to usurp the authority of legitimate monarchs would face legal consequences.
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