Last week, Sir Gregory Iloehike was enthroned as the Eze Ndigbo of Akure in his own palace but Oba Odundun opposed the move saying the city cannot have two traditional rulers. He subsequently marched to the Eze Ndigbo's palace and asked that it be shut down and the furore has brought about tension in the city.
Over the last few days, however, the Igbo community in Akure has made overtures to the Deji, asking that the row be settled amicably. In response, Oba Odundun said that a truce can be reached with the first condition being that the Eze Ndigbo is forbidden from wearing any form of crown henceforth.
Oba Odundun gave the conditions during a meeting with Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko over the lingering crisis. Before the meeting, the governor had met with the Igbo leaders in Akure where Sir Ileohike denied disrespecting the Oba and pleaded with the governor to help resolve the over one-week crisis.
However, Oba Odundun listed as one of his conditions for peace that the Eze Ndigbo must apologise for his unruly behaviour in at least three national dailies and on air. Seeking to resolve the matter, Governor Mimiko apologised to the Oba on behalf of the Igbo leader.
A palace spokesman said: “Conditions for a truce are that the Igbo leader must write a letter of apology to Oba Aladetoyinbo Odundun and the Deji-in-Council. That the title Eze Ndigbo must be reviewed and replaced with a non-controversial honorary title and that the Igbo leader must comply with all the earlier directives of the palace.’’
Earlier this week, Chief Okechukwu Okorie, the president of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural group met with Oba Odundun and apologised for any offence the actions of his members might have caused. After visiting the Deji at his palace in Akure, Chief Okorie said the Igbo respect the monarch and would not do anything against his wish.
Comments
Post a Comment