Akure—IN a bid to nip a brewing break down of law and order  over the leadership of Igbo community in Ondo State in the bud, the state police command at the weekend summoned the Deji of Akureland, Oba  Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo and the Eze Ndigbo, Sir Gregory Iloehika for interrogation.

While the Igbo community elected Iloehika as their leader, six years ago, the Deji of Akure has reportedly recognized one Kingsley Chukwuma as the new leader of the Igbo community. The Igbo, who are spoiling for war over the monarch’s action vowed to reject the imposed leader.

Consequently, the state Police Commissioner, Hilda Harrison, summoned the two gladiators at the weekend to prevent breakdown of law and order.

The Secretary of Igbo Community in the State, Chief Alloy I.K Anolioyo said last night in Akure that; “It is the duty of the Ndigbo to elect a leader for themselves and they will not cede their duty to anyone else. “As long as the Ndigbo in Akure recognize the Deji of Akure as the paramount ruler of the town, we will resist any plan to impose a leader on us. Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo ‘’The local governments are the primary units of Ohaneze Ndigbo with the Headquarters in Akure, the state capital saying the person chosen by the Deji as leader cannot represent the Igbo community as he was not chosen from the Local Governments.’’ The secretary said the Igbo community met with chiefs in the town and they were directed to choose another title for their leader aside Eze Ndigbo, which they were ready to comply with.

However, speaking on the development, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo said the title of Eze Ndigbo was no longer in existence anywhere except the South East. A statement  signed by the association’s secretary, Chief Ugo Okakof and Public Relations Officer, PRO, Chief Chuks Umeh, said the authentic title of Igbo leaders outside Igboland is Onye Ndu Igbo (Igbo leader). They insisted that any one who parades himself  as Eze Ndigbo  violates the February 20, 2008 resolution passed by the South East Council of Traditional Rulers.

The group noted that Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi’s installation of Chief Kingsley Chukwuma, as the leader of Igbo in Ondo State was in accordance with the resolution passed in 2008. It noted that Oba Aladelusi has not committed any offence but only followed the proper procedure by recognising High Chief Kingsley Chukwuma, which the group said was generally accepted by all Igbo residents in the state and national leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo.

The group condemned an attack on Deji of Akure over the installation of Chukwuma, saying those sponsoring the attack are faceless and not members of Igbo community in Akure “This is capable of causing disaffection between the peace-loving and decent Igbo people in the state and their hosts.

“More importantly, it is clear from the publication that the actual beneficiary and apparent sponsor of the maligning story is one Gregory Iloehika who styles and parades himself as the Eze Ndigbo in Ondo State but actually not recognised by any Igbo Traditional Council.

” “The purported press statement referred to him as having †been “elected as Eze Ndigbo by the entire Igbo communities in the state since August 2011” and that any attempt to appoint another leader may lead to crisis.’’

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