BREAKING NEWS: Nigerian King of East London Apologise To South Africans.
Solomon Obona Ezekiel Nigerian man who made himself king of East London has apologised, stating that he is not a king and he did not claim to be a king, however, he introduced himself as a “Chief” meanwhile… pic.twitter.com/lkZTtvIUVK
— PSAFLIVE (@PSAFLIVE) April 11, 2026
Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, the Nigerian national at the centre of a fiery diplomatic storm, has issued a heartfelt public apology to South Africans, clarifying that he is not and never claimed to be a king of any South African territory.
The apology comes after weeks of tension following a March 14 cultural gathering in KuGompo, where Eziko was mistakenly identified as having been crowned “Igwe Ndigbo” (Igbo King) of East London. The misunderstanding sparked violent protests, with angry traditional leaders and residents torching vehicles and buildings, forcing police to deploy stun grenades to restore order.
“I Take Full Responsibility”
In a formal statement released today, Eziko distanced himself from any royal claims. “What took place on 14 March 2026 was my appointment as a senior elder of the Association of Igbo Chapter in Eastern Cape,” he explained. “This appointment did not confer any authority on me whatsoever to be a king, leader of a clan or chiefdom”.
He emphasised that there was never any intention to undermine South Africa’s sovereignty, laws, or revered traditional leadership structures. “I therefore take full responsibility for the concerns and misunderstanding that arose as a result of recent events,” Eziko stated. “It was never my intention, nor that of those involved, to disrespect the sovereignty of South Africa”.
Diplomatic Resolution
The apology follows a high-level meeting in Pretoria between South African government officials and the Nigerian High Commission, which had already distanced itself from the incident, calling it a private cultural celebration with no political agenda.
“With this genuine expression of remorsefulness from me, I hereby request that all stakeholders should please accept my sincere apology,” Eziko concluded, urging peace and unity between the two nations.
Traditional leaders and community members have been urged to accept the apology and restore calm, as both governments work to strengthen the long-standing bonds of friendship between Nigeria and South Africa