Segun Arinze, the Nollywood actor and voice-over professional, has condemned Eze Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, a Nigerian man who crowned himself “Igwe” (King) in Ghana, stating that this act is disrespectful to Ghana’s culture and traditional authority.
The veteran actor while speaking during a recent interview, urged Nigerians in Ghana to respect the country’s sovereignty and laws
“When you go to somebody’s country, the onus lies with you to respect the sanctity of that sovereignty,” he said.
He was reacting to recent controversy surrounding a Nigerian man reported to have plans of establishing an Igbo community in Ghana.
“I heard something last month about a Nigerian who wants to become an Igwe in Ghana. You leave your hometown in Nigeria, you come to Ghana and you want to become Igwe,” Arinze said.
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“If I was around na hammer we for take hammer ein head,” he added.
Recall, Ihenetu, also known as Eze Ndi Igbo Ghana or Eze Ohazurume I of Ndigbo sparked outrage after it was reported he acquired 50 acres of land in Old Ningo, Greater Accra Region, to build an “Igbo village” or “Igbo kingdom.”
The reported plan included a palace, a 2,000-seat town hall, a 100-room guest house, a market, a school, streets named after Igbo figures, and a garden.
The Ga Traditional Council responded with a statement stressing it had never recognised Eze Ihenetu as a king within the Ga State and asked him to stop presenting himself as one. The Ningo Traditional Council also denied selling land to him for any such project.
Following public backlash, Eze Ihenetu issued statements denying that any land had been acquired or that there were plans to create an Igbo Village or Kingdom.
He explained that the rumours stemmed from a 2013 interview, shortly after his 2012 coronation, in which he shared visions that were later shelved.
He said the project was cancelled in 2014 and apologised to Ghanaians for any misunderstanding caused.
