The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has formally condemned the alleged coronation of a Nigerian citizen as a king in the Eastern Cape.
The apology comes after a Nigerian national, Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, took the title of “Igwe of Kugompo City.”
His actions triggered anger among South Africans, leading to protests and violence.
Addressing protesting South Africans gathered at the high commission, Olajide Ogunmadeji, the deputy to the Nigerian high commissioner, clarified that the ceremony was never intended to be an installation of a monarch.
Instead, he maintained the event was meant to be a celebration of the Igbo Association.
“I offer our apology to the traditional institutions in South Africa. We say please excuse what has happened. The embassy would never encourage the undermining of the authority or institutions.
He further emphasised that the embassy does not support any illegal actions taken by Nigerians living in the country, and he reaffirmed that Nigeria remains a friend of South Africa.
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The deputy high commissioner has since signed the memorandum presented by the protesters and committed to responding within the set timeframe.
Anger
The controversy had already turned ugly a day earlier.
The fallout from the ceremony turned violent, as protests led by civic organisations and political parties ended in chaos.
KuGompo City in South Africa’s Eastern Cape witnessed widespread destruction, with vehicles and buildings set ablaze.
During the unrest, several cars were damaged and a building was partially burnt.
Reports also emerged of a protester being allegedly stabbed by a foreign national.
What next?
The incident has exposed fault lines around sovereignty, immigrant conduct, and the limits of cultural expression on foreign soil.
With the memorandum signed and a response deadline set, all eyes are now on the Nigerian High Commission to deliver on its commitments and on South African authorities to address the underlying tensions that turned a cultural gathering into a diplomatic incident.
