Nigerian High Commission rejects Igbo king ‘coronation’ in SA
Nigeria's Deputy Acting High Commissioner Olajide Ogunmadeji's spokesperson said they don't support any actions that undermine South Africa’s laws or traditional institutions.
The Nigerian High Commission has distanced itself from the reported coronation of a Nigerian Igbo king in kuGompo, formerly East London.
Members of the Progressive Forces of South Africa on Tuesday staged a picket outside the Nigerian embassy in Pretoria, demanding clarity on the alleged installation of Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, as well as action.
They also handed over a memorandum raising a list of concerns from crime to illegal immigration and their impact on local communities.
On Monday, a demonstration led by the March and March group in the Eastern Cape city turned violent.
Embassy apologises
Responding to the protestors, Nigeria's Deputy Acting High Commissioner Olajide Ogunmadeji's spokesperson, said they don't support any actions that undermine South Africa’s laws or traditional institutions.
He says the Nigerian government does not recognise the installation of any traditional leader outside its borders, describing the incident as a misunderstanding.
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" But, what happened recently - Nigeria does not support irresponsibility. The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The High Commission here does not support any responsibility. I am on behalf of the High Commissioner and on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and I am tendering our apology to the traditional institutions of South Africa. This is not who we are."
The spokesperson has stressed that Nigeria has had no role in the matter.
"There have been several engagements since this matter came. We've been engaging with the highest authorities. We have written a letter.
“We even wrote to the king in the Eastern Cape where the thing happened to meet with him just to tell him the position of Nigeria, just to apologise. It is not his installation of anything. The embassy will not watch our own citizens to say they are forming another king in another country. No, we'll not support that."
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