Ohaneze leaders beg Deji of Akure to forgive their disrespect over Eze Ndigbo furore

IGBO community leaders in Ondo State have pleaded with the Deji of Akure to let bygones be bygones following the recent furore over the installation of an Eze Ndigbo in the city which poisoned the relationship between migrant traders and the host community.

 

Last week, Sir Gregory Iloehike was enthroned as the Eze Ndigbo of Akure in his own palace but the traditional monarch the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Odundun II 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.

 

Both developments led to increased tension in the city and Igbo traders closed their shops for one day last week, protesting what they see as their marginalisation. With Yoruba community leaders demanding that Igbos stop naming traditional rulers across the southwest as it offends local sensibilities, Ohaneze Ndigbo has stepped in to make peace with the Deji of Akure.

 

Yesterday, 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.

 

He said the Igbo in Ondo State are peace loving people, adding that Ohaneze Ndigbo has started reconciliatory moves with the Deji and palace chiefs to ensure peaceful and harmonious co-existence between the Yoruba and Igbos. Chief Okorie described the relationship between the Deji and Igbo as that of a father and his children, noting that the monarch remains the father to all.

 

Chief Okorie added: “The Igbo are law abiding and we remain good subjects of the Deji of Akure. We can never warn the Deji on any issue, rather he is in position to warn us.

 

“The Deji is our father and we are his children. Whatever he wants is our wish and we shall continue to obey his directives.”

 

He urged the monarch to forgive those who might have offended him, adding that the Igbo would continue to maintain the peace for which Akure is known for. Last week, Oba Odundun had accused the Eze Ndigbo Sir Gregory Iloehike, of insubordination and a lack of respect for his authority.

 

Sir Iloehike denied the allegations, however, saying he could not be arrogant to the community that has accommodated his ethnic group for many decades. It is not yet clear if the Akure Igbos will back down and accept that there cannot be two monarchs in the city, subsequently scrapping the title of Eze Ndigbo.