- Segun Arinze condemned Nigerian man Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu for declaring himself “Igbo King in Ghana.”
- The actor described the act as shameful and disrespectful to both Nigeria and Ghana.
- Ihenetu claims his title is cultural, inspired by Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
- The Ga Traditional Council has rejected his claim, noting he is not listed in Ghana’s National Register of Chiefs.
- He has been ordered to stop parading as a king, but he continues to present himself as a symbolic leader of Igbos abroad.
Nigerian movie legend Segun Arinze has reacted strongly to the ongoing controversy surrounding Dr. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, a fellow Nigerian who has styled himself as the leader of Igbos in Ghana since 2012.
The respected Nollywood figure expressed disappointment at the development, branding it as an embarrassment that undermines the cultural integrity of both Nigeria and Ghana. He argued that abandoning one’s homeland to assume a kingship position in another nation was not only misplaced but also disrespectful to local traditions.
Arinze’s concerns add to the growing backlash against Ihenetu, whose claim to royal authority has been under scrutiny for years. While Ihenetu insists that his role is cultural and inspired by late Biafran leader Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ghanaians have continued to reject his position.
The Ga Traditional Council has publicly declared that Ihenetu’s name is absent from Ghana’s official National Register of Chiefs, making his kingship unlawful. The council has further ordered him to desist from parading himself under the title of “Igbo King in Ghana,” stressing that he holds no legitimate authority in the country.
Despite this rejection, Ihenetu has maintained his presence in Ghana’s public space, often presenting himself as a symbolic leader of the Igbo community abroad. His stance, however, continues to fuel outrage, with many Ghanaians describing it as an affront to the nation’s chieftaincy system.
