Traditional rulers are a major part of Ndi Igbo, forming a significant part of their leadership if not existence. The most influential traditional rulers in the southeast got their influence not by any order of kingship like the Yorubas we place the Oni of Ife first and then the Alaafin of Oyo in that descending form.
In Igboland, where kingship is rare, before the advent of colonialism, order of prominence is not that defined. But we can measure the influence of Igbo rulers by the role they play and the mountains they move. This list is much more about the titleholder than about the office.
Traditional rulers in the southeast are distinguished by their regalia, they dress exquisitely, with their crown and staff of office which makes them look like people of importance everywhere they go.
Below are the Top 10 influential traditional rulers in the southeast.
Obi of Onitsha Achebe
The title of the Obi of Onitsha is currently the highest-ranked influential traditional rulers in the southeast. The Onitsha sea route was the primary sea route into Igbo land plied by the colonial master, this made Onitsha the first port of call for the colonial masters and they non verbally bestowed the Office of the Obi of Onitsha as the highest traditional ruler in Igboland.
The title was not a spiritual endowment but a political one which positioned him as the most influential in the Igbo land.
The Obi of Onitsha is the traditional leader of Onitsha, Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. The post of the Obi is recognized by the state and federal governments of Nigeria, and the Obi himself is seen as a representative of the people of Onitsha to the state and federal levels of government.
Eze Nri Onyeso
The title of the ruler of Nri is Eze Nri. He holds both religious and political authority over the Kingdom of Nri. He is a highly recognized as one of the top influential traditional rulers in southeast.
The Kingdom of Nri (Igbo: Ọ̀ràézè Ǹrì) was an ancient kingdom located in the southeastern part of Nigeria. The kingdom was a haven for all those who had been rejected in their communities and also a place where slaves were set free from their bondage. It was a sphere of religious and political influence over a third of Igboland and was administered by a priest called Eze Nri. He managed trade and communication on behalf of the Nri people and he possessed authority in religious issues.
The current King is Eze Nri Ènweleána II Obidiegwu Onyeso (MFR), a throne he ascended in 1998.
Igwe Nnewi Orizu
Igwe Nnewi on throne
Igwe Nnewi is the oldest monarch in Nigeria. He was born in 1925 and he is 95 years old. His full name is Igwe Kenneth Onyeneke Orizu. He is the 20th Obi of Otolo and Igwe of Nnewi kingdom. He ascended the throne at the age of 38. He is the traditional supreme ruler and spiritual leader in Nnewi, a city in Anambra.
He is also the longest-serving monarch in Igbo land.
He has been famed to be the first monarch in Nigeria to abolish the Osu caste system in Nnewi. The famous multi-billion naira market, the Nkwo Nnewi market was facilitated by him. He is fluent in written and spoken English.
He is one of the influential traditional rulers in the southeast.
Eze Ikonne
Eze Isaac Ikonne (Enyi 1 of Aba) is a traditional ruler in Abia State. He is 91 years old and ascended the throne of the Eziama community in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State 50 years ago. He is one of the oldest traditional rulers in the southeast and the first to receive staff of office in the old Imo state.
Before and after he became king he was a businessman who sold palm wine, cars, real estate among others.
He is the chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo traditional rulers and other numerous recognitions and awards. Eze Ikonne singlehanded without consulting other traditional rulers and leaders, installed the then Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as Ogbuagu 1 of Aba kingdom. Regardless of how criticized the move was, it was upheld. He commands respect in his territory, he is one of the few title holders in Abia state that is nationally recognized. This does not fall far from his romance with the presidency. Eze Ikonne commands a crowd of loyalists in Aba who he can summon to cause mayhem or bring order, wield them during elections or whatever act he wishes to perpetrate. Like other monarchs, his throne can only be transferred to someone from his lineage. He has equally championed reforms in the state and in his community.
Igwe Simeon Okosisi Itodo
HRH Igwe Simeon Okosisi Itodo of Essodo Kingdom, Aji, Igbo-Eze North L.GA is the paramount ruler of Aji Community in Enugu state. He was a member of the House of Representatives during the Second Republic and also former chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers.
He is also the father of the current chairman of Igboeze North Local Government Area. He is currently the patron of the state council of traditional rulers. Igwe Itodo is known for his fearlessness, he challenges the government if they take the wrong steps. He is also a spiritual leader for his people. He is not a christian and his role to the people is 100% spiritual. He consults and settles disputes using the traditional methods. He is loved and respected by his people. He is largely described as powerful, as a core spiritualist he has powers that are believed to do and undo. He has 48 wives and 200 children.
He is one of the influential traditional rulers in Enugu.
King Onyeama of Eke
Onyeama na Eke was king of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, a state that had been created by the merging of several West African kingdoms by the colonial power, Great Britain, in 1914 during King George V’s rule.
He was crowned a warrant chief by the British in 1908. This literally means that he became the King of the Waawa people. This instantly put him into a power-tussle with the Obi of Onitsha. Who was going to bow to the other?
He was a king who was feared because he had the ability to turn to a leopard, Agu owuru, and hunt people who defied his leadership.
Read more about Shapeshifters And Leopard Men In Igboland here.
In 1928, all major kings and chiefs in the old Onitsha province (including Enugu) and beyond assembled in Enugu to welcome Captain W. Buchanan-Smith. Buchanan-Smith was the recently appointed lieutenant governor of southern Nigeria provinces. When the Obi of Onitsha arrived, he occupied the vacant seat reserved for the ultimate king of the Igbo nation while all the other kings only sat on other seats.
King Onyeama arrived a little late with his entourage of security men and Igba drummers. When he inquired and found out that the head-throne was being occupied by the Obi of Onitsha, he went mad! He was outraged that Obi of Onitsha had the audacity to come occupy the highest seat in his domain. He quickly ordered his security men to attack the Obi and dethrone him immediately.
A chaotic scene ensued in which all the kings and the colonial officers tried to pacify King Onyeama of Eke. Onyeama screamed “Waa!”, which meant no. To seal the deal, he completed it with “Waawa!” Which meant “never!”.
He made his move to leave and roared to everyone, “By the time I come back if that man is still occupying that throne, agu erie ya!” That is, “the Leopard will eat him!”. He got his way, by the time he returned, the throne was empty. The Obi of Onitsha had stepped down for him, the throne was redecorated again and he sat on it.
His full name was King Onyeama n’Eke nwa Özö Omulu Onwusi, Agu na-eche ibe, the Leopard that guards other Leopards. He was so powerful that the colonial masters thought it wise to work with the Obi of Onitsha to depower him. Did it work? Yes, because saliently, the political authority was moved to Onitsha such that when he died, the much-coveted throne was no longer as powerful when his successor inherited it. His throne is no longer an influential traditional ruler in the southeast as it was before.
HRH Igwe (Amb.) Lawrence Agubuzo
His Royal Majesty, Igwe Ambassador Lawrence Agubuzo, CON, KSM. Chairman Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council. He is also the Traditional Ruler of Eziama Olo, the Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria. He is an influential traditional rulers in the southeast.
HRH Eze Charles Mkpuma-Chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, Ebonyi State is also influential.
His Eminence Eze (Dr) Eberechi N. Dick (Jp). Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers. Regardless of the title his office bears, Eze Ikonne remains the most influential in Abia state. He is a force to reckon with. This is not to undermine the staff of office of his eminence which is well revered but if we weigh street credibility, Ikonne will take the crown in a heartbeat.
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