The Anambra government has described the chieftaincy title recently conferred on Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of state for foreign affairs, as fake.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu had taken to X on Wednesday to announce what she described as her 11th traditional title in Igboland.
The minister said she was conferred with the title “Anyanwu N’Awalu Ora”—meaning light of the community—at the Igu Aro cultural festival by Austin Ndigwe, whom she called “Supreme Commander of Awka Ancient Kingdom”.
According to her, she also received the ceremonial key to the ancient kingdom and thanked the people of the community and Igboland for the honour.
However, in a statement on Friday, Tony Nwabunwanne, commissioner for local government, chieftaincy and community affairs, said chieftaincy titles in Anambra can only be conferred by recognised traditional rulers in their communities, in line with the law. The commissioner said Austin Ndigwe, who honoured the minister, is not a recognised traditional ruler in Awka or anywhere in Anambra State.
“To put it mildly, he is simply an impostor,” the statement reads.
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