From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
A new twist was yesterday introduced into the crisis rocking the Igbo
community in Ondo State as a group of Igbo leaders under the aegis of
Ohana Eze Ndigbo declared that the title of Eze Ndigbo no longer exist
in the state.
The Igbo leaders insisted that the ousted Eze Ndigbo, Sir Gregory
Iloehika who claimed to be the head of all Igbos in the state was an
impostor as the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo had through
removed him and also banned the Eze Ndigbo title in the state.
In a statement issued by the Onyen Ndu Ndigbo, High Chief Kingsley
Chukwuma, the Igbo Leaders recalled that the South East Council of
Traditional Rulers had in 2008passed a resolution against any Igbo
indigene holding the title of Eze Ndigbo anywhere in the world.
Chukwuma said “holding the title of Eze Ndigbo by any Igbo man outside
Igbo land is the highest level of abuse of Igbo custom and tradition.
The use of the title had been officially banned by the South East
Council of Traditional Rulers, so it is an aberration for anyone to
claim to hold such title anywhere in the world.”
The Ohaneze Ndigbo said the claim by some Igbos in the state that the
Deji of AKure, Oba Aladetoyinbo was planning to install a rival Eze
Ndigbo was a mere hallucination, stressing that the only recognized
title for Igbo leader in the state is Onyen Ndu Ndigbo and the holder
of the title remains High Chief Chukwuma.
The group therefore condemned a statement credited to “Concerned Igbo
Indigenes in Akure” that Oba Aladetoyinbo was planning to cause
disaffection among Igbos in the state by installing a rival Eze
Ndigbo, saying that the group was not known to Igbo leaders in the
state.
“It is laughable for the chicken-hearted and faceless mouth piece of
Gregory Ileoeka who purportedly signed the statement to allege that
Oba Aladetoyinbo planned to install new Eze Ndigbo, when the it is
known to all that the title of Eze Ndigbo is an aberration to the Igbo
custom and tradition,” the group stated.
“The authentic title of Igbo leaders outside Igbo land is Onye Ndu
Igbo which simply means leader of Igbos.If a traditional ruler wishes
to confer any honourary chieftaincy title on any deserving Igbo son
and daughter; it would be highly appreciated by the Ohaneze Ndigbo.
That would be an exemplary gesture capable of promoting peace,” it
added.
Meanwhile, Ondo Sate chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo has congratulated Chief
Nnia Nwodo on his emergence as the President General of Ohaneze
Ndigbo (Worldwide).
The group also congratulated Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) on his
emergence as the governbor-elect of the state, wishing him the best in
his tenure.